Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, has dismissed a report on striking a deal with the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, to impeach the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.
This is coming after the state Assembly served Shaibu an impeachment notice on Wednesday, amid his face-off with Obaseki.
In a statement signed by his media office, the former Governor said political parties have no constitutional role to play in any impeachment process.
According to Oshiomhole, Shaibu’s impeachment is the sole responsibility of the Edo State House of Assembly and the state judiciary.
The senator added that he has not and will not engage in any deals with Governor Obaseki.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to an article circulating on social media regarding a purported plan by the Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki to call on lawmakers of Edo State House of Assembly to begin impeachment proceedings against his deputy Hon. Philip Shaibu.
“Ordinarily, we would neither be concerned nor bothered by what methods the characters in the unending feud within the Edo State PDP employ to settle scores among themselves.
“However, we are compelled to clarify and set the record straight because in the said article, it was falsely claimed, and I quote.
“ _Our reporter also gathered that the governor have(sic) already gotten across to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to help him lobby and talk to the APC lawmakers in the House to support the impeachment move against Comrade Philip Shaibu”
“We wish to categorically state that Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole has not, at any time, engaged in discussions with Governor Godwin Obaseki regarding plans to impeach his deputy, as the apex leader of the APC in Edo State, is solely focused on fostering goodwill between the people of Edo State and the APC, with the goal of winning the upcoming governorship election and returning the state to a path of progress under an APC government.
“Also, it is important to state that matters of impeachment are the sole responsibilities of the Edo State House of Assembly and the Edo State Judiciary. Political parties have no constitutional role to play in any impeachment process.
“Therefore, the notion that Senator Adams Oshiomhole can influence the actions of APC lawmakers, should there be any impeachment exercise in the Edo State House of Assembly is simply preposterous.
“Senator Oshiomhole has not and will not engage in any deals with Governor Obaseki on this or any other political issue.”