Edo Lawmakers To Impeach Shaibu
The Edo State House of Assembly has commenced proceedings to impeach the embattled Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu.
This was announced by the majority leader of the state house of assembly and member representing Ovia North East 1, Charity Aiguobarueghian, during plenary on Wednesday.
He said that 21 of the 24 lawmakers had signed the petition against the deputy governor, which was dated March 5, 2024.
The majority leader insisted that the number of legislators who signed the petition satisfied the two-thirds threshold set down in the constitution.
He mentioned that claims of perjury and revealing government secrets of Edo State were the foundation of the petition.
Shaibu will receive the notice of impeachment from House Clerk Yahaya Omogbai, per the instruction of Speaker Blessing Agbebaku of the Edo State House of Assembly.
Agbebaku further stated that the deputy governor has been given seven days to address the impeachment notice.
The past few months have seen a decline in Shaibu’s relationship with Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Shaibu had during his appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily recently said his his fallout with his principal is as a result of his ambition to succeed him as the governor of Edo State.
He said “He has not been happy that I’m not supporting his candidate. It is my right to contest in an election and I’m exercising that right. And he has done a lot of negative things. It doesn’t matter, I see it as politics.
“I’ve made up my mind to always respect the office of the governor, and I’ll continue to respect the office of the governor till the end, whether as deputy or any other thing.
“So the relationship is not cordial, I can tell you that. It’s not from my end, it’s from his end because I have made attempts to bridge the gap, but he doesn’t allow it”, Shaibu said.
“I have called him and he doesn’t pick up, even in public functions, I greet him, but he doesn’t answer me, because I have made up my mind that I must exercise my right.
“We’ve never had any differences, the only difference we have is ‘why are you contesting’?”
Asue Ighodalo was chosen as the Peoples Democratic Party’s nominee for the September 21 governorship election, while Shaibu prevailed in a separate primary.
The deputy governor has insisted that he is the PDP’s legitimate candidate and that supporting Ighodalo would put the party at risk of losing the state.
