Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has confirmed that his deputy, Philip Shaibu, holds the constitutional right to contest the governorship in 2024. Obaseki clarified that the decision on whether Shaibu will be the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer will be determined by the party.
This announcement comes after Deputy Governor Shaibu officially declared his interest in the Edo State governorship election on Monday. Despite a past rift with Obaseki, the two leaders have reconciled their differences.
In response to Shaibu’s declaration, Governor Obaseki stated, “The relationship, as you know, has been cordial. He (Philip) wants to run for the office I currently occupy, and he is free to. I think as a Nigerian, he has the constitutional right to run; nobody can or should stop him.”
Emphasizing the democratic process within the party, Obaseki asserted, “The party will decide, and also members of the party will decide who will be the flag bearer of the party in the forthcoming governorship election.” The governor’s remarks underscore the importance of internal party mechanisms and the autonomy of party members in choosing candidates for political positions.
