Panic as powerful deputy gov faces assassination, details emerge

Philip Shaibu, the impeached deputy governor of Edo state who was recently reinstated, has survived an assassination attack in Benin, the state capitalShaibu, who was being accompanied by the APC governorship candidate in the September governorship election in the state, was attacked at the airport road on Thursday, July 18The attack happened barely 24 hours after the court reverted his sacking as the deputy governor of the stateComrade Philip Shaibu, the reinstated deputy governor of Edo state, was attacked by gunmen in Benin City, the state capital, on Thursday, July 18.

Shaibu’s convoy was attacked on Airport Road, where the APC governorship candidate, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, accompanied him.

Philip Shaibu survives assassination in Benin
Photo Credit: @HonPhilipShaibu
Source: TwitterDaily Trust reported that during the attack, the assailants killed a policeman in the convoy and injured several others, including Okpebholo, who was hospitalised.

When did Shaibu come under assassination?According to The Punch, the attack occurred shortly after Okpebholo and others arrived in Benin City from Abuja on a chartered flight.

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A Federal High Court in Abuja voided Shaibu’s impeachment as deputy governor on Wednesday, July 17, but the Edo state House of Assembly appealed the judgment.

The gunmen opened fire on the convoy at the airport exit gate, prompting a reprisal from the security details attached to Shaibu and Okpebholo.

Panic in Benin as Shaibu survives assassinationThe incident caused widespread panic, with shops and offices closing hastily and motorists abandoning their vehicles to seek safety.

The police are investigating the incident but have not confirmed any details yet.

Security has been beefed up at the deputy governor’s residence to prevent further attacks.

When is Edo governorship election?The attack is coming barely two months before the state’s September governorship election. Shaibu had contested the governorship election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and emerged as the party’s gubernatorial candidate at a parallel primary.

However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not recognise his candidature. He earlier challenged the PDP primary at the court but lost.

Primate Ayodele predicts Ondo, Edo electionsLegit.ng earlier reported that Promate Elijah Ayodele shared prophecies concerning the Edo and Ondo state governorship elections scheduled for September and November 2024.

The cleric said the PDP would not retain its seat in Edo after the election, adding that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa would overcome all odds to remain in power in Ondo.

Ayodele also predicted that there would be high level of corruption under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Proofreading by James Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng