Members of the Edo State House of Assembly have impeached Speaker Blessing Agbebaku after rejecting his resignation from office.
Agbebaku, who represents Owan West Constituency, had resigned as Speaker on August 17 amid moves by lawmakers to remove him from office.
Following his resignation, Yekini Idiayi, representing Akoko Edo II Constituency, was sworn in as the new Speaker.
However, at the Assembly’s resumed sitting on Monday, Idiayi announced that 17 of the 24 lawmakers had rejected Agbebaku’s resignation and signed a notice seeking his impeachment.
Lawmakers Reject Resignation
According to the new Speaker, the impeachment notice was presented by the Majority Leader, Sunny Ojiezele, during the previous Monday’s plenary.
Ojiezele subsequently moved a motion for Agbebaku’s impeachment, which was seconded by Ahmed Waziri.
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Idiayi said the development meant that Agbebaku was considered to have been impeached rather than to have voluntarily resigned as Speaker.
He also directed the former Speaker to return all government property in his possession.
The new Speaker warned that security agencies would be called in if Agbebaku failed to comply with the directive.
Agbebaku’s Troubled Tenure
Agbebaku was elected Speaker of the eighth Edo State House of Assembly in June 2023.
His troubles began in May 2024 after he suspended three lawmakers over an alleged plot to impeach him and other principal officers of the Assembly.
At the time, Agbebaku linked the alleged plot to external influence and claimed that charms and ritual items were being brought into the Assembly complex.
The suspended lawmakers denied the allegations and described their suspension as politically motivated.
Agbebaku later defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress in May 2025.
His defection came amid calls from some APC members for his removal over his PDP background, previous campaign activities and demands for an “original” APC speaker from his zone.
Governor Monday Okpebholo, however, was reported to have backed his continued stay in office, citing his loyalty and support for the administration’s agenda.
The latest impeachment now brings Agbebaku’s tenure as Speaker to an end, with Idiayi taking charge of the Assembly.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.