The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, has resigned from his position.
Agbebaku stepped down on Monday amid moves by some lawmakers to impeach him. His resignation was confirmed on Facebook by his media aide, Ivy Ebojele, who said further details on the circumstances surrounding his exit would be made public later. “EDO ASSEMBLY SPEAKER RT HON CHIEF BLESSING AGBEBAKU RESIGNS,” she wrote
However, a member representing Akoko-Edo Constituency 1, Yekini Idiaye, has become the new Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly. Idiaye is a third-term member of the assembly and takes over after the resignation of the former Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku.
The new Speaker’s emergence was made possible due to the gentleman’s zoning arrangement, which dictates that when the governor comes from the Edo Central Senatorial District, the Speaker must come from the Edo North Senatorial District. Yekini, being the oldest member from the zone, was made Speaker.
If not for the arrangement, the Deputy Speaker would have automatically become the new Speaker.
Addressing journalists shortly after Monday’s plenary, the new Speaker accused the former Speaker of corruption and not carrying out his job as expected.
Yekini said: “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. We are not happy with his leadership style. His leadership is poor and it has been drawing the work of the government backwards.”
He claimed Agbebaku was removed by the members. Yekini added, “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. 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.”
It was gathered that members of the Assembly were currently in the Government House to inform Governor Monday Okpebholo about the change of leadership. When our correspondent contacted the former Speaker via telephone call, his line was busy, while Ebojele was yet to release a statement over the Speaker’s purported resignation.
