Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has explained why he does not support his former deputy, Philip Shaibu to succeed him as governor of Edo State in the 21 September governorship election in the state.
Mr Obaseki said he could not risk supporting Mr Shaibu to succeed him as governor of the state because the "odds does not favour" Mr Shaibu, Channels TV reported.
"For me, I did not understand where the ambition was coming from because it was clear that the odds were not in his favour in terms of succeeding me and I made it very clear.
"So, I could not take any risk on his ambition because I have to protect the Edo people. So, I could not take that risk on Edo people."
Mr Shaibu was removed from office by the Edo State House of Assembly over an allegation of leaking government secrets, an allegation Mr Shaibu has denied, saying his removal was a plot "hatched because of political ambition". He has vowed to legally challenge his removal.
But Mr Obaseki, who hailed the state assembly for removing his former deputy, had appointed and swore in Omobayo Godwins, a 38-old engineer, as his new deputy.
In an interview with Channels TV on Monday, Mr Obaseki said it was clear that the odds were not in Mr Shaibu's favour, apparently referring to the political zoning in the state.
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