Yekini Idiaye, the lawmaker representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, has emerged as the new Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly following the resignation of Blessing Agbebaku.
Idiaye, a three-term member of the Assembly, was elected Speaker on Monday after Agbebaku stepped down from the position amid reports of an impending impeachment move against him.
His emergence followed the Assembly’s zoning arrangement, which provides that the Speaker should come from Edo North Senatorial District when the governor is from Edo Central.
As the most senior lawmaker from Edo North, Idiaye was subsequently chosen to lead the legislative arm of the state government.
The leadership change also affected the Assembly’s majority and minority caucuses.
The House considered a letter from the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) proposing changes to the leadership of the majority caucus.
The letter nominated Ojiezele, representing Esan South East Constituency, as Majority Leader, while Ojie Inegbebor of Igueben Constituency was nominated as Deputy Majority Leader.
The lawmakers also approved a letter from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), nominating Natasha Osawaru as the new Minority Leader.
Speaking after his emergence, Idiaye said the zoning arrangement played a key role in his selection, explaining that the Deputy Speaker would ordinarily have succeeded Agbebaku if the arrangement did not exist.
He also criticised Agbebaku’s leadership, alleging that his tenure was marked by poor administration, corruption and prolonged adjournments.
“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,” Idiaye said.
“We are not happy with his leadership style. His leadership is poor, and it has been drawing the work of the government backwards.”
Idiaye said the leadership change was necessary to ensure the Assembly supported the state government’s programmes under Governor Monday Okpebholo.
“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.
“That is why we changed him. I can assure all of you that we will do everything possible to support Governor Monday Okpebholo to move this state forward.”
Agbebaku’s resignation came earlier on Monday, ending his tenure as Speaker amid growing political tension within the Assembly.
Reports had suggested that some lawmakers were mobilising support for his removal through impeachment proceedings.
His media aide, Ivy Adodo-Ebojele, confirmed his resignation in a Facebook post, saying further details would be provided later.