By Kolawale Ojebisi
There are reports that the defection talks of Edo state Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress(APC) with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) may have to pass through some initial diplomatic horse-trading following indications that Edo State deputy governor, Rt Hon Philip Shaibu is insisting on running as Governor Obaseki’s running mate under a PDP platform notwithstanding the fact that PDP may have penciled someone for that slot .
Investigations revealed that the Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Phillip Shaibu, who is insisting on running on the same PDP ticket with governor Obaseki is not letting things slip by, a development that has reportedly stepped up efforts by some PDP top leaders to broker a diplomatic horse-trading.
It was gathered that the outcome of the governorship ticket deal which was brokered by a senior national leader of the PDP from Bayelsa state and was facilitated by the Edo state PDP chapter, has already sealed up initial understanding to hand over the PDP’s ticket to the Edo governor.
However, it is not clear if this deal would be extended to his deputy, Rt Hon Philip Shaibu. Multiple sources revealed that efforts by key and influential leaders of the PDP in Edo state including a former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi and Hon.Charles Idahosa,a former Information Commissioner to broker and fast-track an amicable resolution of this issue are currently in top gear.
Should this sail through, Hon Shaibu would then be in a pretty good standing to run with Gov Obaseki as deputy governorship candidate under a PDP arrangement. Philip Shaibu is from Edo North senatorial zone while Governor Obaseki is from Edo South senatorial zone.
Checks indicate that some stakeholders and top hierarchy of the PDP leadership in Edo state may equally be pushing for their own nominee to run the Edo state governorship elections under the PDP platform with Governor Obaseki.
Within the PDP, about three candidates reportedly picked up the party’s nomination forms to contest the party’s governorship primary. They include Hon Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, a young member of the House of Representatives from Oredo, in Edo South Senatorial zone, Barrister Ken Imasuagben, ‘aka rice man’, and Mr Gideon Ikihine. Both Barrister Imasuagbon and Engr Ikhine are from Edo central senatorial zone. It is not clear yet how the permutations would play out in the coming days.
