Yekini Idiaye Elected Speaker After Blessing Agbebaku Resigns

The Edo State House of Assembly elected Yekini Idiaye as its new Speaker on August 17, 2026, following the resignation of Blessing Agbebaku. Agbebaku stepped down after reports emerged that 17 to 18 of the 24 lawmakers had signed an impeachment notice against him, exceeding the constitutional two-thirds requirement. While Agbebaku claimed he resigned for personal reasons and to promote peace in his Owan West constituency, other reports suggest he and Majority Leader Jonathan Ibhamawu were forced out due to executive pressure from Governor Monday Okpebholo's administration.

Upon taking office, Idiaye criticized Agbebaku's leadership as poor and characterized by corruption and prolonged adjournments that hindered government progress. He specifically accused Agbebaku of inflating procurement costs for Lexus 570 and Toyota Hilux vehicles purchased for lawmakers. To facilitate a thorough investigation into these irregularities, Idiaye suspended Agbebaku and Ibhamawu indefinitely, dissolved all political office holders attached to the former Speaker's office, and ordered the return of all government property.

Idiaye, a third-term lawmaker representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, was selected based on a zoning arrangement requiring the Speaker to hail from the Edo North Senatorial District. Following his inauguration, Idiaye pledged the Assembly's full support for Governor Okpebholo. This leadership transition occurs alongside broader state tensions, including a gubernatorial panel's allegations of N96 billion in fraud involving 18 local government councils.