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First female governor in Nigeria | First female governor in Nigeria |
(20 minutes later) | |
Virginia Etiaba has been sworn in as Nigeria's first female governor after Anambra state legislature impeached Peter Obi for gross misconduct. | 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. | 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. |
Shock | Shock |
Both Mrs Etiaba and Mr Obi, from the opposition All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), only occupied their posts in March this year. | Both Mrs Etiaba and Mr Obi, from the opposition All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), only occupied their posts in March this year. |
The peculiarity of situation that has led me to accept the position Virginia Etiaba | The peculiarity of situation that has led me to accept the position Virginia Etiaba |
They took power after a court ruled that Mr Obi's predecessor had rigged the election in 2003. | They took power after a court ruled that Mr Obi's predecessor had rigged the election in 2003. |
Mr Obi told the BBC that he does not feel disappointed by Mrs Etiaba's decision to assume the office of governor as she was "just following the rule of the law". | Mr Obi told the BBC that he does not feel disappointed by Mrs Etiaba's decision to assume the office of governor as she was "just following the rule of the law". |
He said that he would fight the impeachment in court as he "believes in the constitution". | He said that he would fight the impeachment in court as he "believes in the constitution". |
The BBC's Abdulsalam Ahmed in Anambra's state capital, Awka, said 64-year-old Mrs Etiaba looked shocked after the impeachment on Thursday. | |
"The governor is my boss and he remains my boss," she said at the time. | "The governor is my boss and he remains my boss," she said at the time. |
But on Friday morning she was sworn in by the state's chief judge. | But on Friday morning she was sworn in by the state's chief judge. |
In a brief speech, she said she had accepted the position because of the "peculiarity of the situation". | In a brief speech, she said she had accepted the position because of the "peculiarity of the situation". |
Election battle | Election battle |
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. |
Chris Ngige, from the governing People's Democratic Party, had been Anambra's governor for three years, but had fallen out with senior party figures soon after the election. | Chris Ngige, from the governing People's Democratic Party, had been Anambra's governor for three years, but 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. |