Lawmakers say Blessing Agbebaku did not validly resign as Speaker, formally removing him eight days after the leadership crisis began
The Edo State House of Assembly on Monday formally impeached its suspended Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, eight days after a leadership dispute erupted over his position, with lawmakers insisting that his reported resignation did not amount to a valid exit from office.
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Agbebaku, who represents Owan West Constituency I, had announced his resignation as Speaker on Monday, August 17, 2026.
However, the House maintained that he had been impeached and proceeded to formally remove him from office during plenary on Monday.
The lawmakers had earlier elected Yekini Idaiye, representing Akoko-Edo I, as Speaker following Agbebaku’s suspension.
Idaiye stressed that Agbebaku’s departure was the result of impeachment rather than resignation, saying the process had been backed by members of the House.
The motion seeking Agbebaku’s formal impeachment was moved by the Majority Leader, Sunny Ojiezele, and seconded by the member representing Etsako Central, Ahmed Waziri.
Speaking during plenary, Idaiye directed the former Speaker to return all government property in his possession.
He warned that the House would involve security agencies if Agbebaku failed to comply with the directive.
“This is to let the public know that the Edo State House of Assembly has formally impeached the suspended Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku,” Idaiye said.
“And the impeached Speaker is to return all government property in his possession, and security agencies would be engaged if the former Speaker fails to comply with the directive of the House.”
The development marks the latest stage in a dispute that began eight days earlier and has since produced competing accounts of how Agbebaku left the leadership of the Assembly.
According to Idaiye, the impeachment notice was signed by 17 lawmakers and formally presented by the Majority Leader during the previous Monday’s plenary.
He said the House had initially suspended Agbebaku indefinitely but subsequently converted the suspension to impeachment after the former Speaker’s resignation notice was allegedly not formally presented and documented.
The issue of whether Agbebaku resigned or was removed has therefore become central to the dispute.
While Agbebaku reportedly resigned his position on August 17, the new leadership maintains that the resignation was not formally completed in a manner recognised by the House.
The latest action effectively consolidates Idaiye’s position as Speaker while drawing a sharper line between the former Speaker’s account of his departure and that of the lawmakers who supported his removal.
The House’s decision also places responsibility on Agbebaku to surrender government property previously assigned to him in his capacity as Speaker.
The leadership crisis comes at a sensitive time for the Edo Assembly, with the competing claims over Agbebaku’s removal adding another layer to the political tensions surrounding the legislature.
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For now, the Assembly has made its position unequivocal: Agbebaku is no longer Speaker and, according to the House, his exit was through impeachment rather than resignation.
Peculiar Adirika is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
