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Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu has announced his readiness to hand over power to the newly elected governor and deputy governor of Edo State.

This comes following an earlier disclosure by outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki that the incoming governor, Monday Okpebholo, did not invite him to the inauguration ceremony.

Speaking on Channels Television’s program Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Shaibu expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transfer of power.

“I am deeply happy that today has come and I am going to be handing over to a new deputy governor.

“The governor and I have been apart. He does not communicate with me, and we don’t talk. It is very unfortunate. I have not seen him at the government house in the last four days. Normally, if the governor is not there, the deputy governor will hand over. So whether he is there or not, I am ready to hand over,” he said.

The deputy governor added, “Yes, I am back in the APC. I am one of the very young guys that started the APC in Edo State. Because of loyalty, I went with my governor. I decamped from the APC to the PDP not because I wanted to, but because I was loyal to Obaseki. I left the APC because of him, and I am back at the APC because of him.

“I thank him for the opportunity to be able to reunite with my father, Oshiomhole, who I quarreled with because of Obaseki.”

Despite rumours of his whereabouts, Obaseki, on Monday, granted pardons to 10 inmates with less than a year left on their sentences, a final act of his tenure as governor.

His tenure officially ended that day, with Okpebholo, expected to take over.

Okpebholo, emerged victorious in the September 21, 2024, election, defeating his main opponent, Asue Ighodalo, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).