The political landscape of Edo State underwent a seismic shift on Monday as embattled Philip Shaibu, the deputy governor, faced impeachment by the state’s House of Assembly, bringing to a close a protracted saga of discord between him and Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Shaibu’s ousting unfolded during a tense plenary session held in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, marking the climax of simmering tensions that had been brewing for months between him and Obaseki.
The decision to impeach Shaibu stemmed from the adoption of a report submitted by a seven-man committee appointed by the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, tasked with investigating allegations of misconduct leveled against the deputy governor.
Addressing the assembly during the session, Majority Leader Charity Aiguobarueghian disclosed that the committee’s report outlined two crucial findings and one recommendation. Although the panel failed to substantiate the allegations of perjury against Shaibu, it did find him culpable of divulging government secrets.
According to the committee’s recommendation, which cited the disclosure of government secrets as grounds for impeachment, the assembly conducted a vote, with eighteen out of nineteen members present casting their ballots in favour of Shaibu’s removal, meeting the required two-thirds majority.
Subsequently, the assembly endorsed the recommendation of the seven-man panel, effectively impeaching the deputy governor.
Following the impeachment, Speaker Blessing Agbebaku directed the Clerk of the House, Yahaya Omogbai, to furnish Governor Obaseki with copies of the impeachment for his approval.
The development unfolded amidst ongoing legal proceedings, as Shaibu had filed a lawsuit challenging the assembly’s impeachment plans. However, the assembly’s swift action preempted any judicial intervention.
Responding to his impeachment, Shaibu criticized the move, labeling it a threat to democracy.
In a video statement, he accused the lawmakers of failing the state and its electorate.
The impeachment proceedings against Shaibu commenced the previous week when twenty-one out of twenty-four lawmakers signed a petition accusing him of perjury and divulging state secrets.
During a preceding plenary session, Speaker Blessing Agbebaku informed the assembly that the seven-day ultimatum granted to Shaibu to respond to the impeachment notice had lapsed. Agbebaku cited Shaibu’s alleged evasion of service as the reason for resorting to substituted service.
The assembly’s Majority Leader, Charity Aiguobarueghan, subsequently moved a motion that Justice Okungbowa be directed to set up a committee to probe the petition against Shaibu.
