The impeachment proceedings against Philip Shaibu, the Edo state deputy governor, on Wednesday, began by the state House of Assembly.
Charity Aiguobarueghian, the House Majority leader, while announcing the impeachment notice during Wednesday’s plenary, said the petition, dated March 5, was signed by 21 out of the 24 members against the deputy governor.
Aiguobarueghian stated, “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 constitution.”
He also said that the petition was based on two grounds: 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 while giving the deputy governor seven days to respond to the notice of impeachment.
The impeachment notice reignited the rift between the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, who have been at loggerheads since mid-last year when Shaibu announced his intention to run for the office of the governor of the state.