In the past 24 years, no less than 17 Deputy Governors have been ousted from office, as reported as gathered.
Phillip Shaibu, the recently dismissed Deputy Governor of Edo State, marks the 17th removal since Nigeria’s return to democratic governance in 1999.
For Shaibu, it was an arduous journey towards liberation and a protracted struggle to stay politically viable in Edo.
Historically, some Deputy Governors have faced impeachment for political maneuvers deemed as gross misconduct.
According to Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, governors or Deputy Governors can be removed from office via the impeachment process.
The process consists of a written allegation of gross misconduct against the accused person who has a right to defend himself. If his defence succeeds, he is expected to be left off the hook; if not, he is removed from office.
The said section 188 spells out in detail, the procedures and steps to be taken to consummate the process.
Here are Deputy Governors that have been impeached since 1999:
Femi Pedro (Lagos)
Iyiola Omisore (Osun)
Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele (Lagos)
Abiodun Aluko (Ekiti)
Biodun Olujinmi (Ekiti)
Late Garba Gadi (Bauchi)
Peremobowei Elebi (Bayelsa)
Sani Abubakar Danladi (Taraba)
Jude Agbaso (Imo)
Sunday Onyebuchi (Enugu)
Ali Olanusi (Ondo)
Eze Madumere (Imo)
Simon Achuba (Kogi)
Rauf Olaniyan (Oyo)
Mahdi Aliyu Gusau (Zamfara)
Philip Shaibu (Edo)
Among these, only the late Garba Gadi (Bauchi); Peremobowei Elebi (Bayelsa); Sani Abubakar Danladi (Taraba); Sunday Onyebuchi (Enugu); Ali Olanusi (Ondo), Jude Agbaso (Imo); Eze Madumere (Imo); Simon Achuba (Kogi) and Mahdi Aliyu Gusau (Zamfara) have successfully obtained court orders setting aside their impeachments.
Unfortunately, none of the removed Deputy Governors could go back to his or her office for some reasons.
