In this report on EX-NASS MEMBERS SERIES, OrderPaper observes that the dispute between Governor Obaseki, and his estranged deputy, Shaibu – a former lawmaker, led to an impeachment.
Philip Shaibu is an accountant and politician who served as the deputy governor of Edo State from 2016 up until his impeachment in 2024.
Born December 1, 1969, Shaibu attended St. Augustine Primary School in Tundu Wada, Kaduna, till completing his schooling at L.E.A Primary School in Barnawa, Kaduna State. In 1989, he graduated from Saudana Memorial Secondary School in Kawo Kaduna with a West African School Certificate (WASC). He enrolled at the University of Jos in 1995, where he eventually earned a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Accounting in 2000.
The former deputy governor worked briefly for the Nigerian Prison Service in Abuja before retiring as an Assistant Inspector of Prisons in 2002 of his own volition.
His political career began in 2003 when he ran for the Edo State House of Assembly seat on the All Nigerian People Party (ANPP) ticket, however, he was unsuccessful.
Shaibu made another attempt in 2007 and was successful under the Action Congress (AC) where he represented the citizens of the Etsako West Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly. Following the impeachment of Rt. Hon. Zakawanu Garuba as Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Shaibu was appointed as the majority leader on February 24, 2010.
After serving two terms in the Edo State House of Assembly, he contested and won the Etsako Federal constituency House of Representatives seat from 2015 to 2016 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
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Afterwards, he joined the 2016 Edo State gubernatorial race alongside Governor Godwin Obaseki. After the two of them ultimately prevailed in the election, Shaibu served as Edo State’s deputy governor until his impeachment.
On November 27, 2023, Shaibu officially declared his intention to run for the 2024 governorship race in the State, claiming that nothing and no one could stop him from picking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for the race.
Push finally came to shove in the dispute between Governor Obaseki, and his estranged deputy leading to an impeachment exercise. The intense animosity between the two that began over a disagreement over succession reached its peak leading to the first-ever executive impeachment in state history.
Shaibu‘s impeachment followed the conclusion of a panel instituted by the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, on allegations of perjury and disclosing official secrets.
Out of the 19 members present at the plenary, 18 voted in favour of his impeachment, while one member did not participate in the headcount or voting.
In his place, 38-year-old Godwin Marvellous Omobayo of the Labour Party (LP) was sworn in a few hours after the impeachment.
