The crisis rocking the Edo State House of Assembly has taken a fresh turn, with lawmakers formally impeaching the suspended former Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, eight days after he was removed from the leadership of the House.
Agbebaku, who represents Owan West Constituency, had been at the centre of a leadership controversy that began on August 17, 2026, when the House announced changes to its leadership.
Agbebaku’s Resignation Disputed
On Monday, August 17, Agbebaku reportedly resigned as Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly.
Following the development, Yekini Idaiye, representing Akoko-Edo 1 Constituency, was elected as the new Speaker.
However, the House subsequently suspended Agbebaku indefinitely, while also removing 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 1 Constituency, was removed as Deputy Majority Leader and replaced by Inegbeboh Ojie Eugene, representing Igueben Constituency.
House Converts Resignation to Impeachment
Eight days after the initial leadership crisis, the Assembly on Monday, August 24, formally converted what had been described as Agbebaku’s resignation into an impeachment.
The new Speaker, Yekini Idaiye, said the impeachment notice had been signed by 17 members of the House.
According to him, the notice was formally presented by the Majority Leader during the previous Monday’s plenary.
Idaiye explained that the House decided to treat the matter as an impeachment because Agbebaku’s alleged resignation had not been officially presented and documented after his suspension.
The Speaker therefore maintained that Agbebaku was impeached rather than having voluntarily resigned from office.
Motion Passed by Lawmakers
The motion for the formal impeachment was moved by the Majority Leader, Sunny Ojiezele, and seconded by the member representing Etsako Central Constituency, Ahmed Waziri.
The development further deepens the political crisis within the Edo State legislature and raises questions over the circumstances surrounding the change in leadership.
Agbebaku Ordered to Return Government Property
While declaring Agbebaku impeached, Speaker Idaiye stated that the former Speaker remains suspended from the House.
He also directed Agbebaku to return all government property in his possession.
Idaiye warned that security agencies could be invited to intervene if the former Speaker failed to comply with the directive or respond to the Assembly.
The latest action is expected to generate further political and legal reactions as the dispute over the leadership of the Edo State House of Assembly continues.
