Obaseki vs Shaibu again as Edo Assembly begins impeachment process

The petition for impeachment was based on two grounds of perjury and revealing of government secrets.

The Edo State House of Assembly has initiated impeachment proceedings against Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu.

The Majority leader, Charity Aiguobarueghian, who announced the impeachment notice during plenary, said the petition dated March 5, was signed by 21 out of the 24 members of the House.

Aiguobarueghian said, “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 Section 188 (2a) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

He added that the petition was based on two grounds which are 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 marks the most recent development in the ongoing disagreement between the Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy.

Tensions arose last year when Shaibu declared his candidacy for the state governorship election which was not supported by Obaseki.

OrderPaper recalls that Shaibu then alleged a plot to impeach him from office by Obaseki claiming his governorship ambition was responsible for the plot.

Shaibu was recently elected as the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a parallel primary election conducted in his residence in Benin City, the state capital.

However, Asue Ighodalo, backed by Obaseki, was equally announced winner of another PDP primary exercise which took place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.

There seem to be no end in sight to the hostilities between Obaseki and Shaibu.