The answer is ‘No’. A governor can’t sack his deputy. He doesn’t have the constitutional right to do so.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a temporary order stopping the move by the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki to impeach his Deputy, Comrade Phillip Shuaib over their irreconcilable differences.
Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed issued the temporary order while ruling in a motion on notice filed by Shuaib praying the court to stop the move to ease him out of office by his principal.
Consequences of impeachment
Upon the adoption of the report by two-thirds majority of the State House of Assembly, the Deputy-Governor stands impeached, and most immediately vacate the office of Governor.
The Edo State Government has disbanded the media crew attached to the office of the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.
This followed an incident at the Sir Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub in Benin City, the state capital, on Monday.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation in the state, Chris Nehikhare, said the deputy governor’s media crew tried to force their way into the hall where Governor Godwin Obaseki and other invited dignitaries were seated to mark the 60th anniversary of Midwest Referendum.
“This act was contrary to the accreditation protocol that had been established for media coverage of the event.
“The orchestrated and stage-managed walkout and disruption is highly regrettable,” the statement partly read.
The government also directed the Ministry of Communication and Orientation to handle the media coverage of the activities of Shaibu’s office.
Channels Television had reported that the deputy governor stormed out of the venue of the programme after some of his aides were denied entry.