The Edo State House of Assembly on Wednesday officially commenced impeachment proceedings against the embattled state Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu.
The development followed fallout from the just concluded governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where Shaibu emerged as factional candidate for the forthcoming the gubernatorial election.
Shaibu and his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki, have also been embroiled in an unending crisis leading to the Deputy Governor being moved from his official office at the Government House to new building at the Benin GRA.
Commencing the proceedings against Shaibu, the Majority leader Edo Assembly, Charity Aiguobarueghian, announced the impeachment notice during Wednesday’s plenary
Aiguobarueghian said the petition against the Deputy Governor and dated March 5, was signed by 21 out of the 24 members against the deputy governor.
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.”
He also said that the petition was based on two grounds perjury and revealing of government secrets.
The speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku who acknowledged receipt of the petition, directed the Clerk of the House, Yahaya Omogbai, to serve Shaibu the impeachment notice.
Agbebaku also gave the deputy governor seven days to respond to the notice of impeachment.
The impeachment notice is the latest in the rift between the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, who have been at loggerheads since mid-last year when Shaibu announced his intention to run for the office of the governor of the state.
