Impeachment: Ugbomhe Favored as Replacement for Embattled Edo Deputy Governor, Shaibu

Governor Godwin Obaseki is expected to appoint Pascal Ugbomhe, a former member of the Edo House of Assembly, as the replacement for Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu until November 12, 2024. Ugbomhe, who is also from the Etsako region like Shaibu, is a prominent member of the Dan Orbih-led Legacy Coalition in the Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

His selection is contingent upon gaining the support of the party’s National Vice Chairman, Southsouth (Orbih), and his numerous followers ahead of the governorship election on September 21, 2024.

Governor Obaseki is keen on securing victory in the Edo North Senatorial District, which is currently represented by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and ex-governor of Edo state.

Ugbomhe, who hails from Ekperi in Etsako Central Local Government Area, is expected to work towards ensuring the success of PDP’s governorship candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, in the Edo North senatorial district.

This move would diminish the influence of Oshiomhole and Shaibu, as Ighodalo is from Edo Central, which has the lowest voting strength, and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie, is from Benin Kingdom in Edo South, which has the highest voting strength. Ugbomhe, a Law graduate of the University of Benin and former Chairman of Etsako Central Local Government Council, is seen as someone who can persuade Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, a prominent former member of the House of Representatives and a preferred governorship aspirant of the legacy coalition, to support Ighodalo’s candidacy.

This would help foster unity and peace within the Edo PDP. Additionally, a seven-member probe panel led by Justice Stephen Omonua (rtd.) was established by Edo Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, on March 25, 2021, to investigate the allegations.