Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki says the lawsuit instituted by his deputy, Philip Shaibu, to stop impeachment moves against him is a pre-emptive action to enable him join another party while retaining his position as deputy governor.

Obaseki spoke for the first time since Shaibu filed a suit to stop an alleged move by the governor to impeach his deputy over their irreconcilable differences.

On Friday, Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, granted a temporary order while ruling in a motion on notice filed by Shaibu praying the court to stop the move to ease him out of office by his principal.

Justice Mohammed subsequently adjourned the hearing in the matter till August 10 and ordered that the IGP, SSS, and Obaseki who were not represented in court be served with hearing notices.