Edo State Assembly moves to impeach Dep Gov Shaibu

Edo House of Assembly has begun moves to impeach the deputy governor, Mr Philip Shaibu, on Wednesday. He has seven days to respond, the House said.

The Majority Leader, Charity Aiguobarueghian (PDP, Ovia North-East 1), announced the impeachment notice.

Aiguobarueghian said a petition dated March 5 against Shaibu was signed by 21 of the 24 members of the legislature.

He added that the petition was based on perjury and the revelation of government’s secrets.

Aiguobarueghian noted that the number of members who signed the petition was higher than the two-thirds constitutional requirement.

Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku (PDP, Owan-West), acknowledged receipt of the petition.

He directed the Clerk of the house, Mr 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.

Clash with Obaseki
Shaibu made a formal announcement expressing his desire to compete for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship ticket in the party primaries in November last year.

However, the deputy governor has been at loggerheads with Governor Godwin Obaseki over his political ambitions.

Shaibu is from Edo North Senatorial District, the same district as the ex-governor Adams Oshiomhole,

Meanwhile, he had earlier asked an Abuja High Court to stop Obaseki and members of the state House of Assembly from impeaching him at the peak of the dispute.

However, he later withdrew the case.