The crisis in the Edo State government took a new twist on Wednesday after the State House of Assembly commenced impeachment proceedings against the State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.
The impeachment notice was announced during plenary by the Majority Leader of the house, Charity Aiguobarueghian.
He stated that the petition dated March 5, was signed by 21 out of the 24 members against the deputy governor, who opposed the governor’s choice of successor, Asue Ighodalo.
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Shaibu contested the primary election that produced Ighodalo and stormed the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) demanding that he should be issued the certificate of return to represent the party after he was announced the winner in a parallel primary.
The party days later issued Ighodalo the certificate of return as its governorship candidate in line with the governor’s position.
Despite having less than 10 months to be in power, the political crisis which erupted as a result of the upcoming governorship election has continued to dominate the state.
Justifying the impeachment notice, Aiguobarueghian stated, “The petition against the deputy governor came in on March 5 and was signed by 21 out of the 24 members.
“The number of members who signed the petition was more than the two-third requirement stipulated in the constitution.”
According to him, Shaibu is being impeached on two grounds perjury and revealing of government secrets.
Agbebaku directed the Clerk of the House, Yahaya Omogbai, to immediately serve Shaibu the impeachment notice.
Shaibu was consequently given seven days to respond to the notice.