The Edo State House of Assembly has suspended the immediate past Speaker Blessing Agbebaku over alleged leadership failure barely an hour after his resignation from the position.
Recall that Agbebaku had resigned his position as Speaker during plenary, shortly after reports that lawmakers were set to commence impeachment proceedings against him over alleged financial impropriety and leadership failures.
The former Speaker’s spokesperson, Ivy Adodo-Ebojele, confirmed the development in a statement she shared on Facebook.
Adodo-Ebojele said details surrounding the Speaker’s decision would be communicated subsequently.
The lawmakers following his resignation, elected Yekini Idiaye, representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, as the new Speaker of the Assembly.
Idiaye in his maiden address, announced the suspension of Agbebaku pending the outcome of the investigation.
While accusing the former Speaker of poor leadership he stressed that the leadership change was necessary to restore effective legislative business in the State.
He alleged that efforts by lawmakers to address the leadership challenges under Agbebaku were repeatedly rebuffed, resulting in prolonged adjournments and the inability of the House to effectively conduct legislative business.
‘Parliament is about law-making, not a place of social meeting where only one decides when to sit or not to sit as presently practised,’ Idiaye said.
Agbebaku was elected into the Edo State House of Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and subsequently emerged Speaker.
He defected from the PDP to the All-Progressives Congress (APC) in May 2025 while serving as Speaker.
While joining the APC, Agbebaku said his decision was motivated by the need to retain the benefits and privileges associated with his position as Speaker.
It was however gathered that Agbebaku’s resignation came amid growing political tension in the Assembly as well alleged rift between him and political power brokers in the State.