Rift between Obaseki and Shaibu deepens as Edo deputy Gov moves to stop impeachment

The political rift between Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has heightened following Shaibu’s court case seeking protection from his boss, to avoid an imminent impeachment and removal from office.

Recall that Shaibu had in a June 2023 report stated that he was not in conflict with Obaseki, but the court case points to the opposite as it seeks to protect Shaibu from potential political backlash and preserve his role as the Deputy Governor of Edo State.

In a motion on notice brought before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and on Thursday, the appellant seeks an order of interlocutory injunction stopping the respondents or their agents from harassing, intimidating, embarrassing or preventing the applicant from carrying out the functions of his office as Deputy Governor of Edo State, including attending State Executive Council meetings and other functions pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The situation between Governor Obaseki and his deputy, according to sources, deteriorated after Shaibu was seen in a viral video with Senator Adams Oshiomhole during the inauguration of the National Assembly in Abuja.

A source further alleged that a few days after the Abuja viral video, the Governor summoned all Edo State House of Assembly PDP members to his mansion, excluding his deputy, which was extremely unusual.

The deputy, who was briefed about the meeting, drove directly to the Governor’s mansion, but was stopped by operatives of the Department of State Services, who told him he was not on their list of invitees.

The court paper listed the Inspector General of Police, Department of State Services, the Governor of Edo State, Speaker, Edo House of Assembly and the Chief Judge of Edo State as defendants.

Efforts to reconcile the governor and deputy governor were made by former deputy governor Chief Mike Ogiadomhe and a former Chief Judge, but tensions persist.