Blessing Agbebaku resigned as Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly due to an alleged attempt by legislators to remove him.
During Monday’s plenary, Yekini Idiaye, a third-term MP from Akoko-Edo Constituency I, was chosen to succeed Agbebaku.
Idiaye provided an account of the circumstances leading up to the change in leadership after taking office, charging his predecessor with ineffective leadership.
The new Speaker claimed that lawmakers were dissatisfied with Agbebaku’s management of the Assembly.
He claimed that corruption and many adjournments hindered legislative activity during the last Speaker’s term.
He 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.”
According to Idiaye, the lawmakers ultimately made the decision to switch the leadership because they wanted the Assembly to collaborate with the state government more successfully.
“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,” he said.
“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,” he said.
According to reports, the Assembly’s zoning arrangement preceded the introduction of the new Speaker.
According to the arrangement, the Speaker must be from Edo North if the governor is from Edo Central Senatorial District.
As a result, Idiaye, who is said to be the oldest member of the Assembly representing Edo North, was chosen to hold the post.
Legislators reportedly went to the Edo State Government House when he emerged to notify Governor Monday Okpebholo of the leadership change.
Amid rumours that MPs were getting ready to impeach him, Agbebaku resigned on Monday.
A notice of impeachment against him was allegedly signed on Sunday nite by seventeen of the twenty-four parliamentarians.
Ivy Ebojele, his media assistant, announced his resignation but stated further information would be given later.
She said, “I can confirm the Speaker’s resignation but details will be made public later.”
Attempts to reach Agbebaku for his reaction were unsuccessful, as his telephone line was busy.
Ebojele had also not issued a further statement explaining the circumstances surrounding his resignation.