Edo Assembly suspends ex-speaker after resignation

The Edo State House of Assembly has suspended its former Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, after he tendered his resignation due to alleged leadership failings. This move was made just an hour after Agbebaku relinquished his position in plenary, following reports that lawmakers were poised to initiate impeachment proceedings against him.

Agbebaku's spokesperson, Ivy Adodo-Ebojele, confirmed the suspension via a Facebook post, stating that further details would be shared at a later date. In his first address as Speaker, Yekini Idiaye, elected from Akoko-Edo Constituency I, announced Agbebaku's suspension pending the investigation's outcome. Idiaye accused Agbebaku of poor leadership, stating that the change was vital to resume effective legislative proceedings in the state.

He alleged that attempts to address leadership issues under Agbebaku's tenure were consistently thwarted, leading to constant adjournments and the Assembly's inability to carry out its legislative duties properly. Idiaye emphasized that "Parliament is about law-making, not a place of social meeting where only one decides when to sit or not to sit as presently practiced."

Agbebaku, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elected to the Assembly, defected to the All-Progressives Congress (APC) in May 2025 while still serving as Speaker. He claimed his shift was to retain the perks and privileges linked to his Speaker role. Agbebaku's resignation occurred amidst mounting political strife within the Assembly, as well as alleged rifts between him and influential political figures in the state.