Members of the Edo State House of Assembly have impeached Blessing Agbebaku, immediate past speaker, after rejecting his resignation.
Agbebaku had, on August 17, resigned as speaker of the house
amid alleged moves by members of the assembly to impeach him.
Yekini Idiayi, member representing the Akoko Edo II
constituency, was subsequently sworn in as the new speaker of the house.
However, TheCable understands that while speaking during the
resumed sitting of the assembly on Monday, Idiayi announced that 17 of the 24
Edo lawmakers had rejected Agbebaku’s resignation and signed his impeachment
notice.
The new speaker said the impeachment notice was presented by
Sunny Ojiezele, the house majority leader, during the previous Monday’s
plenary.
Following Idiayi’s announcement, Ojiezele reportedly moved a
motion for Agbebaku’s impeachment, which was seconded by Ahmed Waziri, another
member of the assembly.
Idiayi said following the development, his predecessor was
deemed to have been impeached rather than to have resigned from office.
He subsequently directed Agbebaku to return all government
property in his possession, warning that security agencies would be engaged if
the former speaker failed to comply with the directive.
BACKGROUND
Agbebaku, who represents Owan west constituency, was elected
speaker of the eighth Edo assembly in June 2023.
His troubles began in the house in May 2024, shortly after
he suspended three lawmakers over an alleged plot to impeach him and other
principal officers.
He was said to have linked the alleged impeachment plot to
external influence and claims that charms and ritual items were being brought
into the assembly complex.
The suspended lawmakers were allies of Philip Shaibu, former
deputy governor of the state and an ally of Adams Oshiomhole, who is regarded
as the political godfather of Monday Okpebholo, the incumbent governor of the
state.
The suspended members denied the allegations, describing the
action as politically motivated.
Agbebaku subsequently defected from the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in May 2025.
His defection came amid calls by some APC figures for his
removal, citing his PDP background, past campaign activities and preference for
an “original” APC speaker from his zone.
However, Okpebholo reportedly backed his retention, citing
his loyalty and role in facilitating the governor’s agenda.
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