BREAKING: Edo Deputy Governor, Shaibu Impeached Amid Political Tensions

Philip Shaibu, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, was impeached during a plenary session of the Edo State House of Assembly in Benin City.

The decision on Monday followed the conclusion of a probe into allegations of misconduct against Shaibu.

The impeachment process gained momentum after the Edo State House of Assembly adopted the findings of a seven-member committee. This committee was initiated by Edo State’s Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to delve into the accusations levied against Shaibu. The assembly’s actions coincide with a Federal High Court session in Abuja, which was set to revisit a lawsuit by Shaibu challenging the assembly’s impeachment endeavours.

Shaibu’s impeachment was propelled by charges of perjury and unauthorized disclosure of state secrets, culminating in a turbulent week marked by the assembly’s formal impeachment proceedings. An overwhelming majority of the assembly members, 21 out of 24, endorsed the impeachment petition.

The assembly had previously granted Shaibu a seven-day period to respond to the impeachment notice. Despite this, allegations of Shaibu’s evasion of service led to a decision for substituted service, publicly announced in local newspapers. Following the expiration of the notice period, the assembly proceeded with directing Justice Okungbowa to establish the investigatory committee.

At the heart of these events is a stark conflict between Shaibu and his superior, Governor Godwin Obaseki. The rift, centered on Shaibu’s ambition to vie for the governorship position under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been a source of political discord. Despite Shaibu’s attempt to assert his claim to the governorship nomination in a parallel primary election, businessman Asue Ighodalo emerged as the official PDP candidate for the upcoming election.