Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has described his impeachment by the state House of Assembly as illegal.
The state House of Assembly on Monday impeached the embattled state deputy governor following the adoption of the report of the seven-man investigative panel set up by the state Chief Judge to probe allegations of misconduct against him.
He was probed on allegations of perjury and leaking of government secrets by a panel headed by Justice S.A. Omonua (retd.) which ended its sitting on Friday after Shaibu failed to appear.
Shaibu said the impeachment was due to his ambition to become the state governor.
He, however, noted that the impeachment did not follow due process. He made his position known in a video shared on his X handle on Monday.
He said, “My good people of Edo State, I thank you all for standing by me in these troubling circumstances as the deputy governor of Edo State.
“It is with a heavy heart, yet a resolute spirit, that I come before you to address the recent events that are unfolding in our dear state. I denounce in the strongest term the illegal impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly over baseless charges.”
He added that his impeachment was an attack on democracy and a show of dictatorship.
He vowed to fight his impeachment, which he called illegal and unjust, with every ounce of strength in his vein for the sake of the people of Edo State.
Shaibu’s impeachment paved the way for swearing in of 38 years old Engr. Marvellous Godwins Omobayo as the new deputy governor.
Omobayo was sworn in by the Edo State Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, at a ceremony in Government House.
The event was attended by party faithful and traditional rulers mainly for Akoko-Edo local government areas of the state.
The impeachment of Shaibu, a first in the state, is, so far, the high point of the rift between the governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his estranged former deputy.
The plot to remove Shaibu had started almost a year ago when he went to court asking that it stop the Edo State House of Assembly from impeaching him.
However, the process was reactivated shortly after Shaibu emerged as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the parallel primary election.
Governor Obaseki backed Asue Ighodalo who won the primary election conducted by the PDP national leadership.
However, during the impeachment process on Monday, 20 lawmakers, including the House Speaker, Hon Blessing Agbebaku, were present. While 18 members voted for the impeachment, one member abstained.
The deputy governor’s impeachment commenced with the House Clerk reading out an Order 10-Presentation and the consideration of the seven-man panel report detailing alleged gross misconduct against the deputy governor.
Shortly after, the majority leader of the House, Hon Charity Aiguobarueghan, representing Ovia North East 1, moved for the report to be considered. His motion was seconded by the minority leader, Hon Eric Okaka (Owan East).
Consequently, the speaker assumed chairman of the committee of the whole House to consider the report, after the majority and minority leaders had moved and seconded a motion to that effect, respectively.
During the presentation of the report, Hon Donald Okogbe (Akoko-Edo II) objected to part C of the report. But his objection was overruled by the speaker.
While the House ruled out the allegation of perjury against the deputy governor, it however, affirmed the allegation that the deputy governor disclosed official secrets.
At this stage, the majority and minority leaders moved and seconded a motion, respectively, for the speaker to revert to his position as speaker of the House.
The majority leader further moved that with regard to section 188 sub-section 9 of the Constitution, the report be put to vote.
At the end of the voting exercise, 18 members voted in support of the impeachment while one member abstained.
In his comment, the Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, said more than two-third majority of the House voted and endorsed the impeachment.“I hereby from my seat announce that the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, stands impeached,” he stressed.
Omobayo, in his acceptance speech, expressed gratitude and declared loyalty to Obaseki and the party leadership.
He said, “In the few critical months left to tidy up the work of this administration, my job as Deputy Governor is clearly and well cut out. I understand it very clearly.“
In line with the oath of office to which I have just subscribed, l make a solemn pledge to do all in my power, with God’s guidance, to live up to expectations. I will give all it takes to meet the expectations of my principal, the party, and above all, the good people of Edo State.”
