Edo Assembly Elects Yekini Idiaye as New Speaker, Says Agbebaku Was Removed Over Alleged Mismanagement

The Edo State House of Assembly has elected Yekini Idiaye, representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, as its new Speaker following the resignation of former Speaker Blessing Agbebaku amid moves by lawmakers to remove him from office.

Idiaye, a third-term member of the House and the longest-serving lawmaker among the representatives from Edo North Senatorial District, was elected Speaker on Monday after Agbebaku stepped down from the position earlier that day.

Speaking with journalists after the Assembly's sitting on Monday, Idiaye alleged that Agbebaku's leadership was characterised by poor administration, allegations of corruption and prolonged disruptions to legislative proceedings.

The new Speaker said the lawmakers had become dissatisfied with the way the Assembly was being managed and believed that the situation was affecting the functioning of government in the state.

Idiaye Accuses Former Speaker of Poor Leadership

Explaining the circumstances surrounding the change in leadership, Idiaye said the present Assembly was inaugurated on June 16, 2023, under Agbebaku's leadership.

He claimed that lawmakers had encountered several problems since the beginning of the administration, including what he described as instances of corruption and repeated suspensions of legislative sittings.

According to him, some of the disruptions lasted for extended periods without sufficient justification.

“The Assembly was inaugurated on June 16, 2023, under Agbebaku, and since then we have been facing a lot of problems, corruption here and there, suspension of sittings here and there, sometimes for 30 days without any reason. We were not happy with that kind of leadership. His leadership was not good, and it was affecting the progress of government.”

Idiaye's comments provide the lawmakers' stated reason for the change in leadership, although the allegations against Agbebaku remain claims made by his successor and have not been independently established in the information available.

“That Is Why We Removed Him”

Idiaye further explained that the lawmakers decided to take action because they believed the leadership of the Assembly was becoming an obstacle to the effective running of government business.

He said the lawmakers wanted to support the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo and ensure that legislative activities did not obstruct the governor's programmes.

He said:

“That is why we removed him. We have to encourage our governor who is doing well. He is doing well, so anything that will set back or stop the work of our governor, we have to stop it. That is why we changed it.”

The new Speaker also pledged that the Assembly under his leadership would work closely with the governor in order to support the development of Edo State.

“I can assure you that we will do everything possible to support Governor Monday Okpebholo so that he can move this state forward.”

Why Idiaye Was Chosen as Speaker

The emergence of Idiaye was also linked to an existing arrangement within the Edo State House of Assembly concerning the distribution of leadership positions.

According to the arrangement cited in the report, where the governor comes from the Edo Central Senatorial District, the Speaker of the House of Assembly should come from Edo North.

Governor Monday Okpebholo is from Edo Central, making the position of Speaker subject to the arrangement that the office should be occupied by a lawmaker from Edo North.

Idiaye, being the longest-serving member among the lawmakers representing constituencies in Edo North, was subsequently chosen to lead the Assembly.

The arrangement therefore became an important factor in his emergence following Agbebaku's departure from office.

Lawmakers Visit Governor Okpebholo

Following the leadership change in the Assembly, lawmakers reportedly proceeded to the Government House to formally inform Governor Monday Okpebholo about the development.

The visit was part of the steps taken after the change in the leadership of the legislative arm of the state government.

The lawmakers' decision to notify the governor also underscored the political significance of the development, particularly because the new Speaker has pledged to work with the executive arm of government.

Idiaye said his administration would focus on supporting the governor's efforts to move Edo State forward while ensuring that legislative activities continue.

Agbebaku Resigns Amid Impeachment Moves

Agbebaku's resignation came early on Monday, shortly after lawmakers had begun steps aimed at removing him as Speaker.

According to the report, 17 of the 24 members of the Edo State House of Assembly had signed an impeachment notice against Agbebaku on Sunday night.

The development increased pressure on the former Speaker and preceded his decision to leave office.

His resignation therefore came at a time when a significant number of lawmakers had already indicated their support for the process seeking his removal.

Former Speaker's Aide Confirms Resignation

Agbebaku's resignation was confirmed by his media aide, Ivy Ebojele, who acknowledged that the Speaker had stepped down but said further details would be made public at the appropriate time.

Ebojele said:

“I can confirm that the Speaker has resigned, but we will make the details known publicly at the appropriate time.”

The statement confirmed Agbebaku's departure from the leadership position but did not immediately provide an explanation from the former Speaker himself regarding the circumstances surrounding his resignation.

Agbebaku Yet to Give Detailed Explanation

Attempts to obtain further comments from Agbebaku were reportedly unsuccessful.

When journalists contacted him by telephone, his phone line was said to be busy. His media aide, Ebojele, also did not provide additional details concerning the reasons behind the former Speaker's resignation.

As a result, the explanation surrounding the leadership change currently comes largely from the lawmakers who supported Idiaye's emergence and from the confirmation of Agbebaku's resignation by his aide.

The allegations of poor administration and corruption raised against Agbebaku have therefore not been accompanied, in the information provided, by a detailed response from the former Speaker.

New Leadership Begins in Edo Assembly

With Idiaye now occupying the Speaker's seat, attention is expected to focus on how the new leadership will manage the affairs of the Assembly and its relationship with the executive arm of the Edo State Government.

Idiaye has already stated that his priority will include supporting Governor Monday Okpebholo's administration and ensuring that legislative activities contribute to the progress of the state.

The leadership change also marks a significant political development within the Edo State House of Assembly, coming less than four years after the current Assembly was inaugurated.

For now, the new Speaker has the task of uniting the lawmakers, restoring stability to legislative proceedings and addressing the concerns that led to the removal of his predecessor.

Yekini Idiaye's emergence as Speaker follows the resignation of Blessing Agbebaku amid an impeachment process supported by 17 of the 24 lawmakers. Idiaye has pledged to provide a different style of leadership and work with Governor Monday Okpebholo to support the development of Edo State, while Agbebaku's side is yet to publicly provide a detailed explanation for his resignation.