Udoh Oberaifo, the Gubernatorial Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has strongly criticized the recent impeachment of deputy governor Philip Shaibu by the Edo House of Assembly. Shaibu was removed from office on Monday for allegedly disclosing government secrets, with Marvellous Godwins Omobayo appointed as his replacement.
In a statement released in Benin, Oberaifo expressed his disapproval of the impeachment process, highlighting the lack of due process and fair hearing for Shaibu. He pointed out that the impeachment took place despite a pending case filed by the deputy governor at the Federal High Court, raising concerns about the rushed nature of the proceedings and questioning the motives behind it.
Oberaifo also raised suspicions about the relationship between the Labour Party (LP) and the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State. He alleged that the new deputy governor, Omobayo, was still a member of the LP at the time of his appointment, in violation of the Electoral Act 2022. This, according to Oberaifo, demonstrates collusion between the LP and PDP to maintain power in the state.
The AAC candidate condemned the political machinations at play in Edo State and warned against the influence of godfathers in the state’s politics. He called on the people of Edo to reject both the PDP and LP in the upcoming elections in September 2024, advocating for the AAC as a credible alternative. Oberaifo urged the residents to support the AAC’s programs, visions, and manifesto, and to vote for him as the next governor of the state.
In a bid to combat the entrenched power dynamics and ensure a fair and transparent political landscape in Edo, Oberaifo called for unity behind the AAC and a collective effort to bring about positive change in the state. Let us stand together and make our voices heard in the upcoming elections.
