Philip Shuaibu, a former deputy governor of Edo State, has alleged that ex-Governor Godwin Obaseki defrauded him of $300,000.

In a recent interview with The Sun, Shuaibu claimed that Obaseki took the money under the pretense of lobbying party leaders ahead of their defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“When the issue of moving to PDP arose and the debate was about what the party would gain, I told him to go ahead, even if it meant sacrificing the deputy governor slot,” Shuaibu stated.

He further revealed: “I contributed $300,000. He told me he was adding it to $700,000 to lobby leaders in Port Harcourt, but we later found out from the zonal PDP Chairman that no such money was given.”

Expressing frustration, Shuaibu added, “He duped me. It took me seven months to repay the money in installments. I had to raise the alarm because I was repaying a debt for money that was never used. Till today, he hasn’t returned it.”

He named key PDP figures, including Chief Dan Orbih and Ogbeide-Ihama, as witnesses to the situation.

Obaseki and Shuaibu were once political allies but have been embroiled in a prolonged political battle.

Their fallout began after the 2020 Edo State gubernatorial election when tensions over succession planning emerged. Shuaibu, who had been loyal to Obaseki, reportedly sought to succeed him in 2024, but Obaseki resisted the move. This led to public clashes, allegations, and Shuaibu’s impeachment in 2024.

However, in a dramatic turn of events, the court later reinstated Shuaibu, declaring his removal unconstitutional. The ruling intensified the political crisis in Edo State, further widening the rift between the two former allies.

Despite Obaseki’s efforts to maintain political control, his anointed candidate, Asue Ighodalo, lost the Edo State governorship election to Monday Okpeboloh, the candidate of PDP.

The defeat marked a major political setback for Obaseki, further weakening his influence in the state’s political landscape.

Dr. Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, a former Lagos State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is reportedly set to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) today (Monday).

According to The Nation, Jandor has finalised plans to defect to the APC just two weeks after resigning from the PDP.

Reports indicate that the former Lagos PDP chieftain will formally announce his defection at a scheduled press conference at his campaign office in Ikeja.

Jandor had recently held consultations with President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and other political figures following his resignation from the PDP.

His spokesperson, Gbenga Ogunleye, confirmed in a statement last Thursday that the meeting with the President took place on Monday.

The statement read, “I can confirm that Dr Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran Jandor met with President Bola Tinubu on Monday (last week).

“He has earlier met with Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former President Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the SDP in the 2023 general elections, Prince Adewole Adebayo, among other prominent national leaders. It is part of his ongoing consultation after his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party.

“The National Secretary of the PDP and other leaders of the party also visited him recently to appeal for the reconsideration of his resignation from the PDP.

“Dr Adediran will meet with his political associates and critical stakeholders in Lagos over the weekend and address the media by Monday, 17th March 2025.”

Adediran was the governorship candidate of the PDP in the 2023 Lagos State governorship election. He emerged as the party’s candidate after defeating other aspirants in the primaries.

Jandor, a former APC member and founder of the Lagos4Lagos Movement, had presented himself as a fresh alternative to the long-standing APC government in Lagos.

To bolster his chances and appeal to a broader electorate, he chose popular Nollywood actress and producer Funke Akindele as his running mate.

Akindele’s selection was strategic, aiming to leverage her massive influence in the entertainment industry and among Lagos’s youth and urban voters. However, their campaign faced significant challenges, including internal party conflicts.

Despite their efforts to present a strong opposition, the Jandor-Akindele ticket was unsuccessful in unseating the APC government. They finished behind both the incumbent governor, Sanwo-Olu, and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party.

In March 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Sanwo-Olu as the winner of the March 18 Lagos governorship election.

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered Oba Otudeko to take a plea in the charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The order was given by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on Monday.

Recall that EFCC had filed a 13-count charge against Otudeko and three others over an alleged N30 billion loan fraud.

At the hearing of the matter, the judge said Otudeko must take his plea before an application challenging the court’s jurisdiction on the case can be decided.

The judge subsequently adjourned the case to May 8.

Details later…