Obaseki asks Edo PDP members to leave party if they can’t accept his leadership

Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, had earlier complained that since their transition to the PDP in 2019, the Governor has failed in integrating supporters into the party’s fold.

Shaibu said, “We have not been accepted into PDP and for us, we are not telling the governor it is either now or we leave,” Shaibu said.

“We are in PDP now and expected that we will be integrated. When I say ‘we’, not just Philip Shaibu, I’m talking about Anselm Ojezua (former Edo APC chairman) and the state working committee, the ward chairmen and the executives, the leaders of APC then, and all the well-wishers that left APC because of Obaseki.”

“We have been meeting, and we have said we need to be integrated. Anselm Ojezua resigned his membership as chairman of the state; the ward chairmen resigned; other executives resigned to join PDP.”

Philip Shaibu and Obaseki Pulse Nigeria

Reacting, Obaseki said whoever is not happy with his leadership should leave the party.

“Anybody that cannot accept my leadership of PDP in Edo State will leave PDP for us. It’s as simple as that and we don’t like to boast. We don’t talk too much, but you know where we are coming from,” Obaseki said.

“And whoever is backing any group outside Edo State, I’m pleading, leave Edo alone. Edo is not like any other state.”

“So whatever it is, let’s all come as one family, sit down and have a conversation and let’s agree where we want to go. They’ve tried all sorts, and I said ‘look, we’re battle-tested but we’re not battle weary.”

Governor Obaseki also cautioned stakeholders of the party against resorting to violence, as the unity of the party was more important than party politics.

“Let people know that nobody has a monopoly on fighting. Fighting is not good. It’s not the way we want to go. To win an election, we need everybody to come together and work together.” He added.

Prior to the 2020 state elections, Governor Obaseki and his deputy, left the All Progressives Congress to secure gubernatorial tickets for the second term.

Their defection however, paid off as they defeated Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress.