A third-term lawmaker representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, Yekini Idiaye, has been elected Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly following the resignation of Blessing Agbebaku from the position.
Idiaye’s emergence came on Monday, hours after Agbebaku stepped down amid moves by lawmakers to remove him from office.
The new Speaker, who is from the Edo North Senatorial District, was reportedly favoured by the Assembly’s longstanding zoning arrangement, which provides that the Speakership should rotate to Edo North whenever the governor of the state is from Edo Central.
Governor Monday Okpebholo is from Edo Central, making Idiaye’s emergence consistent with the arrangement adopted by members of the Assembly.
Idiaye, who is said to be the oldest serving member from Edo North in the 24-member legislature, was subsequently chosen by his colleagues to lead the Assembly.
Speaking on the development, Idiaye explained that the zoning arrangement played a significant role in determining the successor to Agbebaku.
According to him, without the arrangement, the Deputy Speaker would ordinarily have been expected to take over following the resignation of the Speaker.
The development has triggered a change in the leadership of the state legislature, with members of the Assembly visiting the Edo State Government House to formally inform Governor Okpebholo of the new leadership arrangement.
Agbebaku’s resignation followed growing tension within the Assembly over his continued leadership.
It was gathered that 17 of the 24 lawmakers had signed a notice seeking his impeachment on Sunday night, a development that reportedly preceded his decision to resign.
His resignation was subsequently confirmed by his media aide, Ivy Ebojele.
Ebojele, however, declined to disclose details surrounding the resignation, saying further information would be made available later.
“I can confirm the Speaker’s resignation but details will be made public later,” she said.
Agbebaku’s departure marks the latest leadership change in the state legislature and comes amid renewed attention to the political dynamics within the Assembly.
With Idiaye now presiding over the House, the immediate task before the new leadership will be to stabilise the legislature and maintain cooperation among lawmakers following the events that led to the former Speaker’s exit.
