More facts have emerged on the alleged plans by members of the Edo State House of Assembly’s plan to impeach the deputy governor of the state, Phillip Shaibu on the orders of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Though the Governor’s camp has claimed that the impeachment talk is a hoax, aides of the deputy Governor insisted it is real and may be executed this week.
The two men formed a formidable partnership against Obaseki’s predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole in the build-up to the 2020 governorship election in the state.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in the state who spoke with QUESTTIMES said many of the strategies deployed by Obaseki to gain the upper hand over Oshiomhole during the governorship election were executed by Shaibu.
While Shaibu was thinking Obaseki will reward his loyalty by backing his governorship bid to succeed him in 2024, the governor was not disposed to the idea as Shaibu is from Edo North senatorial district, the same senatorial district as Oshionhole.
“Since Oshimhole from Edo North had completed eight years, Obaseki from Edo South is also completing his eight years, there is a strong clamour that the governorship should be rotated to Edo Central for the sake of justice, fairness, and equity. However, Shaibu said zoning doesn’t matter and that what matters to Edo people is good governance”.
“Immediately after the 2023 general elections, he floated a political group to help actualise his ambition. However, it was gathered that the governor told him that it is not yet time for electioneering activities and the focus should be on governance”.
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A leader in the PDP who defected with Obaseki from the All Progressives Congress (APC) said the relationship between Shaibu and his boss deteriorated when he (Shaibu) started fraternising with Oshiomhole.
“The governor was not happy when he started hobnobbing with Oshiomhole. His calculation was that if Obaseki can’t help him, then he will seek help somewhere else. Infact, there are feelers in the state that he may return to APC and contest on the platform”.
“As we speak the deputy governor is in the United States and I was told he didn’t notify the governor before embarking on the trip. He was also absent at last Wednesday’s State Executive Council meeting”.
Shaibu had approached the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to stop the commencement of an impeachment process against him.
In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1027/2023, the Inspector General of Police; State Security Service; the Governor of Edo State; the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, and the Chief Judge of Edo State were listed as first, second, third, fourth and fifth Defendants respectively.
Shaibu is seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Defendants/Respondents or their agents from commencing an impeachment process against him.
He also prayed the court to restrain the governor of Edo State or other person acting on his order from harassing and preventing him from effectively discharging his duties as the deputy governor of the state.
The court had last Friday ruled that all parties maintain “Status Quo Ante Bellum”, pending the hearing slated for Thursday, August 10, 2023.
However, the deputy governor’s camp claimed the governor has disregarded the court order and has urged the House of Assembly to commence the impeachment process.