By Joy Yesufu
The crisis rocking the Edo State House of Assembly deepened on Monday as lawmakers formally impeached the erstwhile Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, eight days after he was said to have resigned from the position.
Agbebaku, who represents Owan West Constituency, had reportedly resigned as Speaker on August 17, 2026, following which Yekini Idaiye, representing Akoko-Edo I Constituency, was elected to replace him.
The House subsequently suspended Agbebaku indefinitely.
However, at Monday’s plenary, the Assembly formally converted the former Speaker’s reported resignation to impeachment, with the new Speaker insisting that Agbebaku was removed from office and did not voluntarily resign.
Idaiye said the impeachment notice was signed by 17 members of the 24-member Assembly.
According to him, the notice was formally presented by the Majority Leader during plenary, adding that the House decided to proceed with impeachment because Agbebaku’s purported resignation letter had not been formally presented and documented.
He said, “The resignation notice has not been officially presented and documented therefore, the House has converted the matter to impeachment.”
The motion for Agbebaku’s formal impeachment was moved by the Majority Leader, Sunny Ojiezele, and seconded by the member representing Etsako Central Constituency, Ahmed Waziri.
The development followed a leadership shake-up in the Assembly last week, during which Idaiye emerged as Speaker.
The House also removed two other principal officers from their positions; Jonathan Ibhamawu, representing Esan West Constituency, was removed as Majority Leader and replaced by Ojiezele Osezua Sunday, representing Esan South-East Constituency.
Similarly, Addeh Emankhu Isibor, representing Esan North-East Constituency, was removed as Deputy Majority Leader and replaced by Inegbeboh Ojie Eugene of Igueben Constituency.
Following Monday’s impeachment, Idaiye directed Agbebaku to return all government property in his possession.
He also warned that security agencies could be invited to enforce the directive if the former Speaker failed to comply or respond to the House.
The latest development is expected to further deepen the political and leadership crisis within the Edo State legislature, particularly over the circumstances surrounding Agbebaku’s exit from office.
