The impeached Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, says his impeachment is a threat to the nation’s democracy and believes it was a “flagrant abuse of power” by the Edo State House of Assembly.
Earlier, the state House of Assembly impeached the embattled state deputy governor following the adoption of the report of the seven-man investigative panel set up by the state Chief Judge to probe allegations of misconduct against him.
Shaibu said the impeachment was due to his ambition to become the state governor.
He, however, noted that the impeachment did not follow due process.
He made his position known in a video shared on his X handle on Monday.
He said, “My good people of Edo State, I thank you all for standing by me in these troubling circumstances as the deputy governor of Edo State.
“It is with a heavy heart, yet a resolute spirit, that I come before you to address the recent events that are unfolding in our dear state. I denounce, in the strongest terms, the illegal impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly over baseless charges. This is not just an attack on me as an individual but on the democracy 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 2024 governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. An ambition that is a legal right to all citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
