Impeached Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr Philip Shaibu, says his recent removal by the state House of Assembly would not stand the test of time.
Shaibu claimed his impeachment was because of the forthcoming September 21 governorship election in the state.
He stated this when he received the acting Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Emperor Jaret Tenebe, in his Abuja residence.
Shaibu said: “I can assure you, my chairman, I call you my chairman because you are already my chairman and I think you are also one of the reasons they hurriedly did what they did because they know what it takes for you and me to be together and they thought they could use impeachment to get me to succumb but you know that I won’t succumb.
“By the grace of God, I know the judiciary will do the needful because it is an impeachment that I have not been served. So, I want to assure you that my cooperation and my loyalty will remain my weapon and I will definitely be there at all times. Our next target is September 21 and by the grace of God we will get there.”
In a viral video released on Wednesday, Tenebe, who said he was on a solidarity visit, described the impeachment as a sham, urging Shaibu to use all legal means to upturn the action.
He earlier had assured Shaibu that he would not be abandoned.
“I am here to pay you this solidarity visit because I still regard you as the deputy governor of Edo State because that sham they did in the Edo State House of Assembly is a disgrace to the governor and it is an aberration to our democracy which I know that the court will not allow to stand,” he said.
OsunDailyNG reports that Tenebe’s statement is coming barely 24 hours after some APC faithful in Etsako West Local Government Area of the State protested against a planned return of Shaibu to the APC.
The protesters, who marched in their hundreds through the streets of Auchi, the local government headquarters, said his return would not add value to the party.
