Philip Shaibu: 8 impeached deputy governors in Nigeria

The Edo State House of Assembly, on Monday, impeached Comrade Philip Shaibu as the deputy governor of the state over allegations of misconduct. 

Meanwhile, impeachment refers to a political procedure that allows the removal of elected officials from office due to misconduct or violation of the law.

Following Shaibu’s impeachment, Tribune Online takes a look at notable deputy governors in Nigeria who have faced impeachment proceedings in the past:

1. Garba Gadi (Bauchi State).

Garba Gadi was removed from office on August 13, 2009, as the deputy governor of Bauchi State over allegations of gross misconduct. However, he was reinstated a year later on June 25, 2010.

2. Peremobowei Ebebi (Bayelsa State).

Before his reinstatement by the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt on February 16, 2011, Peremobowei Ebebi was impeached as the deputy governor of Bayelsa State in June 2010 by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.

3. Sunday Onyebuchi (Enugu State).

In Enugu, Sunday Onyebuchi was impeached as the deputy governor on August 26, 2014, by the state House of Assembly following allegations of gross misconduct levelled against him. He was later reinstated on December 18, 2015, by the Enugu High Court ruling, which was presided over by Justice Reuben Odugu.

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4. Ali Olanusi (Ondo State).

Ali Olanusi, who served as the deputy governor under the administration of former governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, was impeached in 2015 for alleged misconduct a month after defecting from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). However, the impeachment was nullified by the Appeal Court sitting in Akure on March 24, 2017.

5. Eze Madumere (Imo State).

Eze Madumere was impeached as the deputy governor of Imo State on July 31, 2018. However, he was reinstated a few months later after the Imo State High Court sitting in Owerri declared his impeachment as invalid and of no legal standing.

6. Simon Achuba (Kogi State).

On October 18, 2019, Simon Achuba was impeached as the deputy governor of Kogi State by the State House of Assembly over alleged gross misconduct. He was later replaced by Edward Onoja by former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello.

7. Mahdi Aliyu Gusau (Zamfara State).

On February 23, 2022, all the lawmakers present at the Zamfara State House of Assembly voted in favor of the removal of Mahdi Aliyu Gusau as deputy governor of the state. However, he was reinstated a year later by a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja.

8. Rauf Olaniyan (Oyo State).

On Monday, July 18, 2022, Rauf Olaniyan was impeached by the Oyo State House of Assembly as the deputy governor of Oyo State. This came after he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), where he was elected alongside the state governor, Seyi Makinde.