Agbebaku, Edo speaker, resigns amid impeachment move as Idiaye sworn in

Blessing Agbebaku has resigned as Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly amid moves by lawmakers to remove him from office over corruption allegations.

Agbebaku’s resignation on Monday paved the way for Yekini Idiaye, representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, to emerge as the new Speaker.

Ivy Ebojele, Agbebaku’s media aide, confirmed his resignation in a Facebook post, writing: “Edo Assembly Speaker, Hon. Chief Blessing Agbebaku Resigns.”

Ebojele, however, said further details on the circumstances surrounding the resignation would be made public later.

Idiaye, a third-term lawmaker, emerged Speaker following an arrangement among members of the Assembly based on senatorial zoning.

Under the arrangement, with Governor Monday Okpebholo coming from Edo Central Senatorial District, the speakership is expected to go to Edo North. Idiaye, described as the oldest member from the zone, was subsequently chosen to lead the Assembly.

The new Speaker, speaking to journalists after Monday’s plenary, said the change in leadership followed growing dissatisfaction with Agbebaku’s stewardship of the House.

Idiaye accused the former Speaker of corruption, poor leadership and repeated adjournments that, according to him, affected the functioning of the Assembly.

“The House was inaugurated on the 16th of June, 2023 under the leadership of Agbebaku, and since then we have been passing through a lot of challenges, corruption here and there, adjournment here and there, sometimes for 30 days without a cause,” he said.

“We are not happy with his leadership style. His leadership is poor, and it has been drawing the work of the government backwards,” he added.

Idiaye further said lawmakers decided to remove Agbebaku because they believed his leadership was undermining the state government’s performance.

“That is why we removed him. We must encourage our performing governor. He is doing well; anything that will derail or stop our performing governor, we must stop it,” he said.

The new Speaker pledged that the Assembly would support Okpebholo’s administration and work towards moving the state forward.

Following the leadership change, members of the Assembly were said to have gone to the Government House to formally inform Okpebholo of the development.