Edo Assembly Speaker Blessing Agbebaku Resigns Amid Impeachment Threats
Edo State House of Assembly Speaker Blessing Agbebaku has resigned amid reported impeachment moves by lawmakers. Yekini Idaiyi has emerged as the new Speaker.
The political landscape in Edo State shifted on Monday, August 17, 2026, after Blessing Agbebaku, Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, resigned from office amid reported moves by lawmakers to remove him.
Agbebaku's resignation came as a surprise development in the state's legislature and immediately triggered a change in the leadership of the 24-member Assembly. Reports indicate that Yekini Idaiyi, representing Akoko-Edo II Constituency, subsequently emerged as the new Speaker.
The development adds another chapter to the political realignments that have characterised Edo politics since the 2024 governorship election and the subsequent change of administration.
Agbebaku resigns as Speaker
Agbebaku's resignation was confirmed by his media aide, Ivy Ebojele, in a brief statement published on Monday.
“EDO ASSEMBLY SPEAKER RT HON CHIEF BLESSING AGBEBAKU RESIGNS. DETAILS LATER,” Ebojele stated, according to reports by Nigerian media outlets. (TheCable)
The announcement did not immediately provide details about why the Speaker decided to step down.
However, reports indicate that his resignation followed growing pressure from lawmakers and alleged moves to impeach him.
The Cable's report on Agbebaku's resignation reported that the Speaker resigned amid alleged efforts by members of the Assembly to impeach him. The report also said Idaiyi had been sworn in as the new Speaker.
Punch's report on the resignation similarly reported that Agbebaku stepped down as lawmakers were making moves to remove him.
Yekini Idaiyi emerges as new Speaker
Following Agbebaku's departure, the Assembly moved quickly to fill the vacant leadership position.
Yekini Idaiyi, who represents Akoko-Edo II Constituency, emerged as the new Speaker and was subsequently sworn into office, according to reports. (Trending News)
The speed of the transition suggests that the resignation was closely connected to an ongoing leadership contest within the legislature.
The change also means that Agbebaku's tenure as the presiding officer of the eighth Edo Assembly has ended abruptly, more than three years after he was first elected to the position.
How Agbebaku became Speaker
Agbebaku, who represents Owan West Constituency, became Speaker of the eighth Edo State House of Assembly in June 2023.
He emerged alongside Maria Omozele Edeko, who was elected Deputy Speaker. Both were elected without opposition during the inauguration of the 24-member Assembly. (Edo State Government)
At the time, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) controlled most of the Assembly, having won 15 of the 24 seats in the 2023 election, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) won eight and the Labour Party secured one. (Vanguard News)
Agbebaku's emergence was therefore closely associated with the political structure of the PDP administration under then-Governor Godwin Obaseki.
But Edo's political configuration changed considerably after the 2024 governorship election, which was won by APC candidate Monday Okpebholo.
From PDP to APC
One of the most important political developments in Agbebaku's speakership came in May 2025, when he defected from the PDP to the APC.
Agbebaku joined the APC alongside other Edo lawmakers and political figures, strengthening the ruling party's position within the State House of Assembly. Reports at the time said the APC's strength rose to 18 members in the 24-member legislature, leaving the PDP with six lawmakers.
Agbebaku said his decision was motivated by the need to promote development in his Owan West constituency and to work with Governor Okpebholo's administration.
BusinessDay's report on Agbebaku's defection reported that the Speaker argued that remaining in the position would allow him to facilitate development projects for his constituents.
His defection was, however, criticised by the Edo PDP, which questioned the political motivation behind the move. (Punch Newspapers)
A history of leadership tensions
Monday's resignation is not the first time Agbebaku's leadership has faced serious pressure.
In May 2024, the Speaker suspended three lawmakers over allegations that they were plotting to remove him and other principal officers of the Assembly.
The suspended lawmakers included members representing Akoko-Edo II, Esan North-East I and Orhionmwon II constituencies. Agbebaku alleged that external forces were attempting to destabilise the Assembly and change its leadership. (The Guardian Nigeria)
The lawmakers denied the allegations, and the episode became one of the major controversies surrounding the Assembly during the early period of Agbebaku's speakership.
The latest resignation therefore comes against a background of previous leadership disputes and changing political alliances within the legislature.
What Agbebaku's resignation means for Edo politics
The change in leadership could have wider implications for Edo State politics.
The State House of Assembly plays a crucial role in approving budgets, passing legislation, conducting oversight of the executive and confirming certain government appointments. A change in its leadership can consequently influence the relationship between the legislature and the state government.
Agbebaku's departure also comes at a politically sensitive period as political parties and politicians begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The former Speaker's move from the PDP to the APC in 2025 had already reflected the broader realignment of Edo's political forces. His subsequent resignation could trigger further adjustments among lawmakers and political stakeholders.
For the APC-led government, the emergence of a new Speaker could provide an opportunity to consolidate legislative cooperation. For opposition parties, however, the development could become another point of contention in the state's increasingly competitive political environment.
Fresh political chapter for Edo Assembly
For now, questions remain over the precise circumstances surrounding Agbebaku's resignation. His media aide said more details would be released, while reports of an impeachment threat have provided the immediate political context for his departure. (TheCable)
What is clear is that the Edo State House of Assembly has entered a new phase under Yekini Idaiyi.
Agbebaku's exit closes a three-year chapter that began with his unanimous emergence as Speaker in June 2023 and was marked by party realignment, internal disputes and changing political power in Edo State.
The coming days are likely to reveal more about the events that led to his resignation and whether the leadership change will bring stability to the Assembly or open a fresh round of political manoeuvring.