The Edo State House of Assembly has impeached the state’s deputy governor, Philip Shaibu.
News About Nigeria reports that the Assembly removed the deputy governor on Monday after consenting to the findings of a seven-member investigative committee tasked with examining allegations of serious wrongdoing against him.
Shaibu was accused by the Assembly of divulging confidential information from the state government and committing perjury.
The Assembly deemed Shaibu’s alleged actions as grounds for impeachment.
This development arises amidst a prolonged feud between Governor Godwin Obaseki and the deputy governor.
Last Wednesday, the Assembly presented its accusations during the inaugural session of the seven-member panel appointed by the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to probe the deputy governor.
In response, the embattled Deputy Governor declined to further engage in the proceedings of the investigative panel established to scrutinize the misconduct allegations leveled against him by the Edo State House of Assembly.
Shaibu, who contested in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) primary election in Edo, was defeated by Dr. Asue Ighodalo.
Ighodalo emerged victorious in the party-endorsed primary, while Shaibu claimed victory in a separate one.
Shaibu had defeated nine other aspirants with over 301 votes while no fewer than 576 delegates decided the fate of Ighodalo.
In reaction, Shaibu last month filed a lawsuit against the party’s candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the PDP, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the Federal High Court in Abuja regarding the PDP primary held on February 22, 2024.
Shaibu petitioned the court to invalidate the primary election which resulted in Ighodalo being selected as the party’s candidate for the September gubernatorial election.
