BENIN-CITY: The newly elected Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Yekini Idiaye, has ordered the indefinite suspension of his predecessor, Blessing Agbebaku, and the Majority Leader, Jonathan Wawu, shortly after assuming office.
Idiaye, who represents Akoko Edo Constituency I, emerged Speaker on Monday following Agbebaku’s resignation from the position.
The change in leadership took place during a plenary session presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Osamwonye Atu, who announced Agbebaku’s resignation at the beginning of the sitting.
Idiaye, a third-term lawmaker, was nominated by Sunday Ojiezele, representing Esan South East Constituency, and the nomination was seconded by Eric Okaka, representing Owan East Constituency.
The Clerk of the House subsequently administered the oath of office on Idiaye, who immediately assumed the leadership of the Assembly.
Shortly after his inauguration as Speaker, Idiaye announced the indefinite suspension of Agbebaku and Wawu.
He also directed the affected lawmakers to hand over all official documents in their possession and instructed the police to enforce the directive.
Idiaye cited alleged corruption and poor leadership as reasons for Agbebaku’s removal from the leadership of the House.
We shall not allow the House to be riddled with misdirection and corruption due to the error and greed of a few men. Never again shall a light-hearted man be allowed to lead this robust assembly,” Idiaye said.
The development comes shortly after Agbebaku announced his resignation, citing personal reasons and the need to protect peace and the interests of the state and his constituency.
In his resignation statement, Agbebaku denied reports of political tension within the Assembly.
He said that although disagreements were inevitable among lawmakers because of their different identities, beliefs and opinions, such differences did not prevent the House from passing bills and resolutions aimed at benefiting the people.
“Differences will naturally arise because we all have our individual identities and beliefs,” Agbebaku said in a statement issued through his spokesperson.
He also thanked Governor Monday Okpebholo for his support and reaffirmed his loyalty to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Agbebaku congratulated Idiaye on his emergence and appealed to members of the Assembly to maintain peaceful coexistence.
The new Speaker’s emergence followed an internal zoning arrangement in the Assembly, according to the report.
The arrangement provides that the Speaker’s position should be occupied by a lawmaker from Edo North when the governor of the state comes from Edo Central.
Idiaye represents Akoko Edo Constituency I in Edo North and is serving his third term in the House.
Agbebaku, who represents Owan West Constituency, became Speaker in June 2023 on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party before defecting to the APC in May 2025.
The latest development has introduced a fresh leadership phase in the Edo State House of Assembly, with Idiaye now responsible for steering the affairs of the legislature amid allegations surrounding the previous leadership.
