Edo Assembly begins impeachment process against deputy governor, Shaibu

(FILE) Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu.

… CRPP raises alarm over plot to ignite anarchy in Edo

The Edo House of Assembly on Wednesday commenced impeachment proceedings against the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu.

The Majority Leader, Charity Aiguobarueghian, who announced the impeachment notice during plenary, said the petition dated March 5, was signed by 21 out of the 24 members against the deputy governor.

Aiguobarueghian stated that the number of members who signed the petition were more than the two- third requirement stipulated in the constitution.

He also announced that the petition was based on two grounds of perjury and revealing of government secrets.

The Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku, who acknowledged receipt of the petition, directed the clerk of the house, Yahaya Omogbai, to serve the impeachment notice on the deputy governor.

Agbebaku also gave the deputy governor seven days to respond to the notice of impeachment.

Meanwhile, the Coalition of Registered Political Parties in Edo State on Wednesday warned against any attempt to commence impeachment proceedings against the Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu saying, it “can ignite a chain reaction which can lead to anarchy.”

Emerging from an emergency meeting in Benin City, the CRPP Chairman, Samson Isibor and Secretary, John Isidhaome, in a statement they signed said: “We implore the governor to jettison the idea of impeachment and work towards the peaceful transition of power to the next governor of Edo State.

“As far as we are concerned, the Deputy Governor has not committed any impeachable offence or breached his oath of office.

“The Edo people has the exclusive right to call for his impeachment if he commits any grievous offence like corruption, misappropriation of public funds etc. As far as we are concerned, Comrade Shaibu have not committed any of the above, rather he is fighting to contest for the governorship ticket of his party, which he has every right to participate unhindered.

“Governor Obaseki has no right to continue to intimidate Shaibu. Edo State needs peace to progress. The outgoing governor should be preparing his handover notes to Shaibu or any other candidates that may win the September 2024 gubernatorial election, instead of engineering political upheaval in Edo State,” CRPP said.