The Edo State House of Assembly, Monday 8 April 2024, impeached the state deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, over allegations of misconduct. The impeachment followed the adoption of the report of a seven-man investigative panel set up by the state Chief Judge to probe the allegations against Shaibu.
The panel, which was inaugurated in February, was tasked with investigating the allegations of gross misconduct, financial recklessness, and abandonment of office leveled against the deputy governor. The panel submitted its report to the House of Assembly last week, and after a thorough review of the report, the lawmakers voted in support of the impeachment.
The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun, who made the announcement of the impeachment, said the decision was reached after the House considered the report of the investigative panel. He said the impeachment was in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
The development comes after several months of political tension in the state, with the deputy governor and the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, at loggerheads over political differences.
Shaibu, who was elected as deputy governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2016, had been at odds with Obaseki, who defected to the PDP from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2020.
The impeachment of the deputy governor has been described as a significant development in the political landscape of Edo State, and it remains to be seen how this will impact the state’s governance and political dynamics.
The Edo State House of Assembly has not yet announced the next steps to be taken in the wake of the impeachment, but it is expected that the state government will make a statement in due course.
