The Edo State House of Assembly started impeachment proceedings against Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu on Wednesday.
The lawmakers accused him of lying under oath and revealing confidential government information. This move is seen as the latest development in the ongoing conflict between Shaibu and Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Tensions between the two have been high since last year, when Shaibu announced his intention to run for governor in this year’s election. Obaseki is reportedly backing Asue Ighodalo, a former Chairman of Sterling Bank, who won the governorship candidacy for the Peoples Democratic Party.
Ighodalo defeated Shaibu and nine other candidates in the primary election held on February 22.
Despite Shaibu boycotting the primary and holding a separate one where he declared himself the winner, the PDP national leadership did not recognize him. They issued Ighodalo a Certificate of Return as the official winner of the primary.
Last week, Shaibu visited the PDP national secretariat in Abuja to request a Certificate of Return. He threatened to take legal action, despite the party’s efforts to reconcile.
On Wednesday, the Edo State House of Assembly declared that impeachment proceedings against Shaibu had begun.
The Majority Leader of the House, Charity Aiguobarueghian, made the announcement during a meeting, stating that the decision was based on a petition dated March 5, 2024, signed by 21 out of the 24 members of the House.
“The petition against the deputy governor came in on March 5 and was signed by 21 out of the 24 members. The number of members who signed the petition was more than the two-thirds requirement stipulated in the constitution,” Aiguobarueghian said.
The Majority Leader stated that the allegations in the petition were related to perjury and the disclosure of government secrets.
The Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku, confirmed receiving the petition and instructed the Clerk of the House, Yahaya Omogbai, to deliver the impeachment notice to the deputy governor.
Agbebaku granted the deputy governor seven days to reply to the impeachment notice.
Attempts to obtain Shaibu’s response were unsuccessful. When contacted, his media aide, Musa Ebhomiana, requested more time to respond. However, he could not be reached later on.
On the other hand, the Conference of Registered Political Parties in Edo State criticized the impeachment process against Shaibu.
In a statement by its Chairman, Dr. Samson Isibor, and Secretary, John Isidhaome, they urged Obaseki to control the Assembly.
“As far as we are concerned, the Deputy Governor has not committed any impeachable offence or breached his oath of office.
“Edo people have the exclusive right to call for his impeachment if he commits any grievous offence like corruption, misappropriation of public funds, among others,” the association said.
