By Eshioromeh Sebastian
The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, has stepped down from his position, according to confirmation from his media team.
His resignation comes at a time when a faction of lawmakers had begun mobilizing to oust him through impeachment proceedings.
A spokesperson for the Speaker, Ivy Ebojele, verified the development but indicated that a comprehensive statement detailing the events leading to his departure would be issued in due course.
The political turbulence traces back to early 2025 when Agbebaku made a surprise switch from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
At the time, he defended his decision by arguing that holding onto the Speaker’s chair was essential for securing developmental projects for his constituency, rather than being driven by partisan loyalty.
His crossover, together with three other defectors, shifted the balance of power in the 24-member assembly, giving the APC a slim majority over the PDP. That move, however, did not sit well with all parties involved.
In the months that followed, Agbebaku faced mounting criticism. A local group from his senatorial district accused him of maintaining hidden ties to his former party while pretending to align with the current administration.
They also claimed that he had a hand in alleged violent incidents during the lead-up to the 2024 governorship election.
Despite these complaints, reports suggested that Governor Monday Okpebholo had been backing Agbebaku’s tenure, appealing to lawmakers on multiple occasions to let him continue.
Sources indicated that the governor valued the Speaker’s cooperation in advancing executive bills and policy requests, even when the PDP held numerical strength in the House.
Ultimately, the pressure from within the assembly became too intense. A coalition of legislators decided to initiate a formal removal process, prompting Agbebaku to resign before the impeachment could be finalized.
With Agbebaku’s exit, the Edo State House of Assembly now faces the task of selecting a new Speaker. No official announcement has been made regarding an interim leader or the timeline for electing a successor.
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