In a dramatic turn of events, eighteen members of the Edo State House of Assembly voted to impeach the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, on Monday. This decision came following the consideration of a report submitted by a seven-man panel appointed by the State’s Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa.
The assembly session, attended by twenty members including Speaker Blessing Agbebaku, witnessed a majority vote in favor of Shaibu’s impeachment, with one member abstaining.
The process commenced with the reading of Order 10, presenting and evaluating the panel’s report which investigated allegations of perjury and divulging official secrets against Shaibu.
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Despite objections raised during the presentation, particularly regarding certain sections of the report, the assembly proceeded with the vote. The outcome saw the allegations of perjury deemed unproven, while the charge of leaking official secrets was upheld.
Following the impeachment, Governor Godwin Obaseki swiftly announced the appointment of 38-year-old Marvellous Omobayo as the new Deputy Governor. Omobayo, sworn in at the Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City, pledged to build on the accomplishments of the Obaseki administration.
In response to his impeachment, Shaibu denounced the process, labeling it as illegal and politically motivated. In a video statement, he asserted that his removal stemmed from his aspiration to contest the 2024 governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emphasizing that such ambitions are within his legal rights.
Shaibu’s impeachment has stirred controversy, with supporters rallying behind him, decrying what they perceive as an attack on democracy and an abuse of power.
As tensions escalate, Edo State finds itself embroiled in a political storm, with the fallout from this development likely to reverberate across the state’s political landscape in the coming days.
You can also read: Panel Stands Firm: Edo State Investigation into Shaibu’s Conduct Persists