The Edo State House of Assembly on Monday impeached the embattled deputy governor of the state, Comrade Philip Shaibu.
The Assembly which began sitting at 9.41 am voted for the impeachment of the deputy governor by a vote of 18 against one , among the 20 members present with the speaker expected to give the deciding vote in case of a tie.
Shaibu, according to Justice Stephen Omonua (Rtd)-led a seven-man panel set up by the Chief Judge (CJ) of the state, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to investigate the allegation of gross misconduct levelled against the deputy governor, submitted that the deputy governor was guilty of disclosure of official secret.
The panel, however, exonerated the impeached deputy governor on the allegation of perjury as it was not proven.
In his reaction made available to THISAGE on Monday, Shaibu said, “I denounce in strongest terms the illegal impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly over trumped up charges. This is not just an attack on me as an individual but on the very democratic principle that we hold dear. It is a dangerous descent into dictatorship and a threat to the foundation of our democracy. Let it be clear that this impeachment was hatched because of my ambition to contest the Edo State governorship election on the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ambition that is a legal right to all citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is a sad reality that in our political landscape, ambition is met with resistance and those in power seek to silent opposition through illegitimate means. I have dedicated myself life to serving the good peoples of Edo State with integrity, I have worked tirelessly to upheld the values of democracy and justice and yet I am faced with accusations and a blatant disregard for due process and rule of law… We will fight this injustice with every power in our vein. for the sake of Edo Citizens and the future of democracy.”
