Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has said that his Deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu has the constitutional right to contest the State gubernatorial election in 2024.
This is as he declared that his vote alone can not stop Shaibu who is hoping to fly the flag of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the election.
After a Thursday closed-door meeting with Bala Mohammed, the Chairman of PDP Governors Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Obaseki told journalists that, “We came to see Governor Bala and as you know, he’s our Chairman, Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum; so we decided to come and see him this afternoon, to congratulate him on his victory and discuss some issues relating to the PDP Governors’ Forum,” he said.
Responding to question if their discussion had anything to do with his relationship with his deputy, Obaseki said, “That is part of it.”
“We also discussed many other issues relating to our party as a whole and the state of the country. And as you know, things are not as we want them to be. We will keep rubbing our minds to see how we can support the administration and save this country by reducing the suffering of Nigerians,” he added.
About his relationship with his deputy, Obaseki said, “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.
“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.”
On whether he would support him, Obaseki said, “I’m only one out of millions of our party members in Edo State. I don’t think my vote alone will determine whether he becomes the party’s flag bearer.”
