During Wednesday’s plenary, the Edo State House of Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu.
The majority leader, Charity Aiguobarueghian, revealed that a petition, supported by 21 out of 24 lawmakers, dated March 5, 2024, accused Shaibu of perjury and disclosing government secrets.
Aiguobarueghian emphasised that the signed petition met the constitutional two-thirds majority. Speaker Blessing Agbebaku instructed the House clerk, Yahaya Omogbai, to serve the impeachment notice to Shaibu.
Agbebaku verified that the deputy governor has seven days to address the impeachment notice.
The rift between Shaibu and Governor Godwin Obaseki has escalated, with Shaibu attributing the discord to his aspiration for the governorship.
In a recent interview, Shaibu pointed out that Obaseki is displeased with his lack of support for the governor’s preferred candidate.
“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 really 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 own end, it’s from his own end because I have made attempts to bridge the gap, but he doesn’t allow it”, Shaibu said.
The deputy governor said he had made several efforts to mend the relationship with the governor to no avail.
“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’?”
Shaibu emerged winner in a parallel primary as Asue Ighodalo was elected as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the September 21 governorship election.
However, the deputy governor has maintained that he is the authentic candidate of the PDP, saying that the party risks losing the state if it backs Ighodalo.
