The Edo State House of Assembly has impeached Mr. Philip Shuaibu, the Deputy Governor of the state.
The decision, made during the assembly’s plenary session held in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, marks the climax of the ongoing political standoff between the deputy governor and his superior, Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The impeachment of Shuaibu came after the adoption of a report by a specially constituted seven-man committee headed by Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa. This committee was tasked with investigating allegations of misconduct leveled against the deputy governor.
Last week, the Edo House of Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Shaibu, with 21 out of 24 lawmakers signing a petition against him. The allegations included charges of perjury and the unauthorized disclosure of state government secrets.
During the plenary session held last Tuesday, Speaker Blessing Agbebaku informed the assembly that Shaibu had been served an impeachment notice on March 6, 2024. Despite a seven-day ultimatum given for a response, the deputy governor allegedly evaded the notice. As a result, the assembly resorted to a substituted service, which was published in the Nigerian Observer and the Vanguard Newspapers on March 12, 2024, making March 19, 2024, the deadline.
In response to these developments, the Majority Leader of the Edo House of Assembly, Charity Aiguobarueghan, proposed a motion directing Justice Okungbowa to establish a committee to investigate the petition against Shaibu.
The impeachment of Deputy Governor Shaibu underscores the deepening political crisis between him and Governor Obaseki, marking a significant chapter in the state’s political landscape.