The Edo House of Assembly has initiated impeachment proceedings against Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, accusing him of divulging government secrets and perjury.
This move is seen as the latest development in the ongoing tension between Shaibu and Governor Godwin Obaseki, which escalated after Shaibu declared his intention to contest in the upcoming Edo governorship race.
Obaseki is reportedly backing Asue Ighodalo, former Chairman of Sterling Bank, who emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate for the September 21, 2024, election.
Despite Shaibu’s boycott of the primary and his subsequent declaration as the winner at a parallel primary, the PDP national leadership recognized Ighodalo as the valid winner and issued him a Certificate of Return.
Shaibu’s demand for a Certificate of Return from the PDP national secretariat in Abuja last week, coupled with failed reconciliatory efforts, preceded the announcement of impeachment proceedings against him by the Edo State House of Assembly.
The Majority Leader of the House, Charity Aiguobarueghian, revealed that the petition against Shaibu, signed by 21 out of 24 members, alleged perjury and disclosure of government secrets.
Speaker Blessing Agbebaku instructed the Clerk of the House to serve the impeachment notice on Shaibu, who has seven days to respond.
Meanwhile, the Conference of Registered Political Parties in Edo State criticized the impeachment move, asserting that Shaibu has not committed any impeachable offense.
