Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, has resigned from his position.
It was gathered that Agbebaku resigned early Monday morning after receiving information that 18 of the 24 members of the Assembly had signed a notice for his impeachment as of Sunday night.
Info Daily reports that the signatures of two-thirds of the 24 members, representing 16 lawmakers, are required to impeach the Speaker.
Agbebaku’s resignation was confirmed by his media aide, Ivy Ebojele, who said details of the resignation would be made public later.
Yekini Idiaye, member representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I and a third-term member of the Assembly, has emerged as the new Speaker.
Ordinarily, when a Speaker resigns or is impeached, the deputy speaker takes over. However, in line with the gentleman’s zoning arrangement in the state, which stipulates that when the governor comes from the Central Senatorial District, the Speaker should come from the North Senatorial District, Idiaye, being the most senior member from the zone, was elected Speaker.
Addressing journalists shortly after plenary, the new Speaker accused the former Speaker of not effectively discharging his responsibilities as Speaker.
Yekini said: “We are not happy with his leadership style. His leadership is poor, and it has been drawing the work of the government backward.”
He said Agbebaku was removed by members of the House, adding: “That is why we removed him. We must encourage our performing governor. He is doing well. Anything that will derail or stop our performing governor, we must stop it. That is why we changed him.
“I can assure all of you that we will do everything possible to support Governor Monday Okpebholo to move this state forward.”
At the time of filing this report, all the members of the House had left the Assembly premises in waiting vehicles and reportedly headed for the Government House