By Alexandra Dominic-Chukwu and Doris Israel Ijeoma
Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Since the restoration of democracy in 1999, Nigeria has witnessed a number of impeachments of state and deputy governors.
According to investigations conducted by voiceofnaija.ng, a total of 17 deputy governors have faced impeachment proceedings so far.
Impeachment, a constitutional process, allows for the removal of an elected official from office due to allegations of gross misconduct, as outlined in Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, which details the process for the removal of governors and Deputy Governors through impeachment.
It requires a notice of any allegation in writing and signed by not less than one-third of the members of the House of Assembly stating that the holder of the office of deputy governor is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office.
The governor of the state must also support such notice.
The Chief Judge of the state shall, within seven days of the receipt of the notice, appoint a panel of seven persons who in his opinion are of unquestionable integrity, not being members of any public service, legislative house or political party, to investigate the allegations.
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The deputy governor has the right to defend himself in person and be represented before the panel.
If the panel reports to the House of Assembly that the allegations have been proved, then the House can proceed to impeach the deputy governor by a resolution of not less than two-thirds of all the members of the House of Assembly.
The most recent addition to this list is Phillip Shaibu, the ousted Deputy Governor of Edo State, marking the 17th impeachment from office in the past 24 years in Nigeria.
Shaibu’s journey mirrors a pattern of turmoil and struggle within Edo’s political landscape, as observed over the years with other Deputy governors.
Below is the list of deputy governors that have been impeached and some reinstated.
1) Philip Shaibu, Edo State
Shaibu was impeached on Monday, April 7 by the state House of Assembly, following the adoption of the report of a seven-man panel set up by the Chief Judge to probe him for alleged perjury and leaking the government’s secrets.
2) Sani Danladi, Taraba State
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Danladi assumed the position of deputy governor of Taraba State following his victory in the 2007 gubernatorial election.
He secured re-election in 2011 but faced impeachment on October 4, 2012.
However, the Supreme Court nullified his impeachment on November 21, 2014. Consequently, he was reinstated as deputy governor and acting governor, tasked with completing the term of Governor Danbaba Suntai, who was incapacitated in an aircraft accident shortly after Danladi’s impeachment.
3) Femi Pedro, Lagos.
Mr. Pedro, formerly deputy to Governor Bola Tinubu, faced impeachment for gross misconduct on May 10, 2007, shortly before the end of the administration.
The Lagos State House of Assembly subsequently revoked the impeachment.
This decision came after the assembly adopted the recommendation of an eight-member Ad Hoc Committee, formed on July 2, to assess the circumstances surrounding Pedro’s impeachment.
4) Iyiola Omisore, Osun
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In November 2002, seventeen out of the twenty-six members of the Osun State House of Assembly endorsed the impeachment of the Deputy Governor, Chief Omisore.
The lawmakers handed over the Deputy Governor’s impeachment notice to Speaker Dr. Mojeed Alabi shortly after Mr. Oyewole Ebenezer Ropo, the winner of the Ife Central bye-election, was sworn in during the house session.
Mr. Moruf Lawal, representing Olorunda Constituency, delivered the notice to the Speaker.
The notice, which outlined two allegations against the Deputy Governor, accused him of violating his oath of office and engaging in conflicts of interest with the state government.
The lawmakers accused Chief Omisore of disclosing confidential information from the State Executive Council and initiating legal action against the state government regarding a $1.5 million water chemical contract.
5) Chris Ekpenyong, Akwa-Ibom
Ekpenyong served as the deputy governor during Governor Victor Attah’s administration from 1999 to 2005.
In 2005, he was impeached as the deputy governor of Akwa Ibom state but swiftly reinstated to the position within seven days following intervention by then-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Despite his reinstatement, Ekpenyong eventually resigned from office.
6) Abiodun Aluko, Ekiti State
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In 2005, the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mr. Abiodun Aluko, faced impeachment by the State House of Assembly yesterday, concluding his prolonged conflict with Governor Ayodele Fayose.
Allegedly, Aluko was deemed culpable of the 16 impeachable charges brought against him by the lawmakers, with 22 of them voting for his ousting.
7) 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.
8) Peremobowei Ebebi (Bayelsa State).
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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.
9) 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.
10) 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.
11) Eze Madumere (Imo State).
READ ALSO: Ondo Deputy Governor Under Fire as Impeachment Process Gets Underway
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.
12) 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.
13) 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.
14) 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.
15) Jude Agbaso (Imo State)
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Jude Agbaso, the former deputy to Rochas Okorocha, ex-governor of Imo State, faced impeachment by the state house of assembly on March 28, 2013.
The allegations against him included receiving N458m and Red Label scotch whiskey as bribes from J-Pro, a construction firm. His impeachment was nullified eight years later.
16) Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti State)
In November 2009, Ekiti State lawmakers emerged from seclusion in a nearby town and cast a 24-2 vote to impeach Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose and Deputy Governor Mrs. Biodun Olujimi from office.
The charges included allegations of diverting state funds into a private bank account and receiving kickbacks from a state-operated poultry project.
17) Kofoworola Bucknor (Lagos State)
Kofoworola Bucknor was impeached as the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Nigeria, in 2007 due to allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office. The impeachment process stemmed from a rift between her and the then-governor, Bola Tinubu.
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