Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Edo State deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, will next week declare his intention to contest for the 2024 Edo State governorship election against the interest of his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The governor is believed not to be well disposed to Shaibu featuring in the contest to succeed him.

Shaibu has been consulting and meeting with politicians and the media on his intention with the latest being his meeting with journalists in Abuja at the weekend.

A close aide of Shaibu said yesterday that “If everything works according to his plans, he will officially declare his intention next week. He has already secured a campaign office along Airport Road, some of the campaign vehicles have started arriving and the consultations have reached an advanced stage”.

“Shaibu is very optimistic in winning the governorship ticket of the PDP against whoever the power that be is projecting because he is on ground and knows what to do when he eventually becomes the governor,” he said.