A member representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, Rt. Hon. Yekini Idiaye, has emerged as the new Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly.
Idiaye, a third-term lawmaker, takes over from Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, who resigned as Speaker on Monday amid moves by lawmakers to impeach him.
His emergence was influenced by the Assembly’s gentleman’s zoning arrangement, which provides that when the governor is from the Edo Central Senatorial District, the Speaker should come from Edo North. As the oldest member from the Edo North Senatorial District, Idiaye was subsequently elected Speaker. Without the zoning arrangement, the Deputy Speaker would have automatically succeeded Agbebaku.
Addressing journalists after Monday’s plenary, the newly elected Speaker accused his predecessor of poor leadership. He alleged that Agbebaku’s tenure was characterised by corruption and prolonged adjournments that hindered the progress of the House.
“The House was inaugurated on the 16th of June, 2023 under the leadership of Agbebaku, and since then we have been passing through a lot of challenges, corruption here and there, adjournment here and there, sometimes for 30 days without a cause. We are not happy with his leadership style. His leadership is poor, and it has been drawing the work of the government backwards,” Idiaye said.
He added that the change in leadership was necessary to support the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo. “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.”
The election of Idiaye as Speaker is expected to usher in a new phase of legislative leadership in the Edo State House of Assembly.