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First female governor in Nigeria | First female governor in Nigeria |
(10 minutes later) | |
Virginia Etiaba has been sworn in as Nigeria's first female governor after Anambra state legislature impeached Peter Obi for gross misconduct. | |
She had been deputy governor in the south-eastern state and initially refused to take the position. | |
Mr Obi said he would not leave office and civil rights groups have criticised the whole process as unconstitutional. | Mr Obi said he would not leave office and civil rights groups have criticised the whole process as unconstitutional. |
A BBC correspondent says the battle could get more volatile if supporters of the two sides take to the streets. | A BBC correspondent says the battle could get more volatile if supporters of the two sides take to the streets. |
Election battle | Election battle |
Mr Obi, who has been in office for just seven months, only took power after a court ruled that his predecessor had rigged the election in 2003. | Mr Obi, who has been in office for just seven months, only took power after a court ruled that his predecessor had rigged the election in 2003. |
This is the fifth state to start impeachment proceedings against a governor this year. | This is the fifth state to start impeachment proceedings against a governor this year. |
Ex-Governor Ngige was sacked earlier this year | Ex-Governor Ngige was sacked earlier this year |
Some say the recent impeachments are part of the fight against corruption. | Some say the recent impeachments are part of the fight against corruption. |
But critics say it is often more about rival politicians trying to take charge of the state so they can control the elections due early next year. | But critics say it is often more about rival politicians trying to take charge of the state so they can control the elections due early next year. |
Mr Obi, from the opposition All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has only occupied the post since March this year. | Mr Obi, from the opposition All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has only occupied the post since March this year. |
That was after an appeal court rule that the elections in the state in 2003 were rigged by the governing People's Democratic Party. | That was after an appeal court rule that the elections in the state in 2003 were rigged by the governing People's Democratic Party. |
The PDP's Chris Ngige, who occupied the post of governor illegally for three years, had fallen out with senior party figures soon after the election. | The PDP's Chris Ngige, who occupied the post of governor illegally for three years, had fallen out with senior party figures soon after the election. |
He said it was because he refused to loot public money to pay them back for their support. | He said it was because he refused to loot public money to pay them back for their support. |
Since Mr Obi took office in March, he has been locked in a power struggle with one of the president's closest aides, Andy Uba, who wants to win the governorship in next year's elections. | Since Mr Obi took office in March, he has been locked in a power struggle with one of the president's closest aides, Andy Uba, who wants to win the governorship in next year's elections. |
Analysts say the impeachment process could only help this ambition. | Analysts say the impeachment process could only help this ambition. |