Edo deputy governor sues Obaseki, seeks court protection over ‘impeachment plot’

Philip Shaibu, deputy governor of Edo, has approached a federal high court in Abuja with a suit to prevent an alleged impeachment plot against him.

Shaibu, in an ex parte motion filed on July 28, asked the court to restrain the defendants from preventing him from carrying out his role as deputy governor.

According to the court documents seen by TheCable, the inspector-general of police, state security service, governor of Edo, speaker of Edo state house of assembly, and chief judge of Edo state, were listed as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.

The deputy governor asked the court to restrain the governor, the speaker of the state assembly and chief judge, from “initiating impeachment proceedings or sanctioning any impeachment” against him.

Shaibu also asked the court to declare whether Godwin Obaseki, the state governor, is within his powers to “instigate” the inspector-general of police and the secret police to prevent him from attending state executive council meetings.

“AN ORDER OF INTERIM INJUNCTION restraining the defendants/respondents, whether by themselves or their agents or persons acting for and on their behalf from harassing, intimidating, embarrassing and preventing the Plaintiff/Applicant,” the suit reads.

“In carrying out the functions of his office as deputy governor of Edo state including attending state executive council meetings/functions and other duties pertaining to his office pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

“AN ORDER OF INTERIM INJUNCTION restraining the 3rd, 4th and 5th defendants, whether by themselves or their agents or persons acting for and on their behalf from initiating impeachment proceedings against the plaintiff/applicant or sanctioning any impeachment.”

OBASEKI AND SHAIBU BROMANCE HEADED FOR THE ROCKS?

In the buildup to the 2020 Edo governorship election, Obaseki and Shaibu teamed up to defeat their erstwhile political godfather, Adams Oshiomhole, who was then the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Oshiomhole had used his influence to disqualify Obaseki from clinching the APC governorship ticket for a second term.

Displeased by the move, Obaseki and Shaibu moved to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to secure the party’s ticket.

During the campaigns, the duo condemned Oshiomhole for what they described as open display of godfatherism.

Obaseki won his re-election bid at the expense of Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Oshiomhole’s anointed candidate.

However, it now appears as though the bromance between Obaseki and Shaibu has waxed cold, ahead of the 2024 Edo governorship election.

Loyalists of Obaseki are concerned about the renewed bromance between Oshiomhole and Shaibu.

In June, Shaibu was spotted with Oshiomhole at the inauguration dinner of APC national assembly members.