Politics
APC kicks as Edo accuses Shaibu of impersonating dep gov
The Edo State government, on Monday, accused Philip Shaibu of illegally parading himself as the deputy governor of the state by allegedly sending official correspondences.
The state governor said since the judgment reinstating Shaibu as deputy governor, was still being challenged in court, his alleged actions were illegal.
But in a swift reaction, the opposition All Progressives Congress in Edo State, which is Shaibu’s current party, defended him, rubbishing the claim by the state government.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on July 17 reinstated Shaibu as the deputy governor of Edo State, three months after the Edo House of Assembly impeached him.
The judge, James Omotosho, declared that Shaibu’s impeachment by the state Assembly was illegal
Omotosho ordered the inspector general of police to restore Mr Shaibu’s security details. He directed that his salaries and allowances be paid since April, when he was removed from office.
The Edo Assembly has appealed the judgment and filed a stay of its execution pending the determination of the appeal.
However, Shaibu, in an interview after his reinstatement, said the judgment that reinstated him was declarative and had to be carried out before an appeal could be entertained in the case.
In a press statement on Monday, the state’s Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare said, “It has come to the attention of the Edo State Government that the former Deputy Governor, Comr. Philip Shaibu, has been carrying out correspondence with different institutions and organisations both within and outside the State in a clear case of impersonation.
“In the interest of the safety of these organisations, we want to restate that Shaibu is not the Deputy Governor of Edo State and every correspondence from him in that regard should be disregarded and considered a forgery.
“The issue of his purported reinstatement is still active in court and the next hearing for the two separate motions filed by the State Government and the Edo House of Assembly challenging the purported reinstatement by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court is fixed for 24 September, 2024.
“The State through the Attorney General of Edo State and the Edo House of Assembly by their lawyers, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, and Ken Mozia, SAN, respectively, had in the motions sought an order for a stay of the execution of the purported reinstatement and an order suspending the judgment and restraining Shaibu from parading himself or attending any official function as deputy governor pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
“Therefore, the status quo is that His Excellency, Omobayo Marvelous Godwins, remains the deputy governor of Edo State and any correspondence carried out by any other person, including Philip Shaibu is an act of impersonation, and anyone who deals with him does so at his or her own risk.
“Security agencies are, by this notice, alerted to the potential breach of peace and are urged to hold Philip Shaibu responsible for any security breach in the state arising from his ignoble actions,” the statement added.
Efforts to get Shaibu’s reactions were unsuccessful as he did not pick up the calls placed to his mobile line by our correspondent.
Defending Shaibu, however, the Publicity Secretary of the Edo APC, Peter Uwadiae, said, “It is the court that reinstated Shaibu. Every other thing they are saying doesn’t hold water. Marvellous Omobayo is the one who is impersonating.
“The court verdict on the issue is very clear. The court reinstated the man and said there was no vacuum. It also said that all that he is entitled to from the first day the illegal impeachment took place should be paid and he should be allowed back to office.
“They can also not be talking about impersonation as the court has not overturned the judgment. It is still subsisting as of today. That you filed a notice of appeal or a stay of execution of judgment does not, in any way, stop the decision of the court from subsisting. Until that decision of the court is overturned by a higher court, Shaibu remains the deputy governor.”
Delta state Commissioner of Information, Charles Aniagwu, said that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in Delta joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) to protect the state’s interest.
Addressing journalists at Government House, Asaba, Aniagwu, said the move was aimed at preserving unity, deepening development, and safeguarding the wellbeing of Deltans.
His words: “The decision was taken to build the bond of love that have existed in our state, to further advance the cause of security and welfare of our people and to a very large extent ensure that development in Delta, because every politics is local, is not truncated.
“And in taking that decision we came to the inevitable conclusion that moving out of the PDP is very very necessary for us to be able to collaborate with our kith and kin and build that state that every Deltan will be proud of.
The commissioner likened the current state of the PDP to palm wine that has lost its taste.
He said: “We believe that what is happening and the state of the PDP is akin to that palm wine whose taste has changed and there was a need for us to change the drinking pattern.
“And that is why this decision has been taken unanimously by leaders and stakeholders of the party.
“By the grace of God, Monday next week, we will be able to make a very big statement after the fact that we are moving into the APC.”
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma have hailed the defection of Delta state Governor, Sheriff goes and his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa into the ruling APC.
Wike gave the commendation in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media, Mr Lere Olayinka in Abuja on Wednesday.
Recall Okowa, the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) Vice Presidential candidate in the 2023 election on Wednesday, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Okowa decamped alongside Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta and other PDP stalwarts in the state, collapsing the entire PDP structures in the state to the APC.
Wike described the development as another endorsement of the president’s good governance and commitment to the development of the country.
He called on other Nigerians, who were still sitting on the fence to throw in their support for Tinubu.
According to him, Okowa and Oborevwori open endorsement of Tinubu is a vindication of the position I took in 2023, which was based on the interest of a united Nigeria.
“I commend Okowa and Gov. Oborevwori for this heart-warming decision, which must have been informed by good governance and commitment of President Bola Tinubu to the oneness and development of Nigeria.
“That is what I have always told people to come out and say, not to be running up and down when they have problems.
“They have come out at the right time to show support for Mr President so that the people of Niger Delta can benefit more from the government, and I commend them for it.
“I am particularly happy that what I saw before the 2023 presidential election, others are now seeing and are joining the “Renewed Hope train,” the minister said.
The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has announced a postponement in date of resumption of plenary sittings from April 29 to May 6, 2025.
The announcement was contained in an internal memo dated April 20, 2025, addressed to all senators and signed by the Senate Clerk, Andrew Ogbonna Nwoba.
The memo is reproduced in extenso hereunder:
“Distinguished Senators,
“I am directed to inform you that the resumption of plenary sittings of the Senate, earlier scheduled for Tuesday 29th, April 2025, has been rescheduled to Tuesday, 6th May 2025.
“This postponement is made to allow Distinguished Senators, stay with their constituents, during the International Workers’ Day public holiday, in the first week of May, and to further enhance constituency engagements.
“Distinguished Senators are kindly requested to take note of this postponement, while regretting any inconvenience, the change might have caused.”
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