The political crisis rocking the Edo State House of Assembly has taken another dramatic turn, with lawmakers formally impeaching the immediate past Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, barely a week after he was said to have resigned from the position.
The development has further deepened the uncertainty surrounding the leadership of the state legislature, which has witnessed a major shake-up in its principal offices in recent days.
Agbebaku, who represents Owan West Constituency, was initially announced to have resigned as Speaker amid growing tension within the House.
His resignation paved the way for Yekini Idaiye, representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, to emerge as the new Speaker.
However, what initially appeared to be a resignation has now been formally reclassified as an impeachment by the new leadership of the House.
How The Edo Assembly Crisis Unfolded
The crisis began last week when Agbebaku stepped down as Speaker amid reported moves by lawmakers to remove him from office.
Following his exit, Idaiye was elected Speaker during plenary, while the House also made sweeping changes to other key leadership 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, was removed as Deputy Majority Leader and replaced by Inegbeboh Ojie Eugene, representing Igueben Constituency.
The former Speaker was also suspended indefinitely.
House Says Agbebaku Was Impeached, Not Resigned
Eight days after the controversy erupted, the House took another decisive step by formally impeaching Agbebaku.
Speaking during Monday’s proceedings, Speaker Idaiye said the impeachment notice had been endorsed and signed by 17 lawmakers.
According to him, the decision followed the failure to formally present and document Agbebaku’s alleged resignation letter after his suspension.
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Idaiye maintained that Agbebaku should therefore not be regarded as a former Speaker who voluntarily resigned, insisting that he was removed through impeachment.
The formal impeachment motion was moved by the Majority Leader, Sunny Ojiezele, and seconded by the member representing Etsako Central Constituency, Ahmed Waziri.
Former Speaker Ordered To Return Government Property
Following the impeachment, the new Speaker directed Agbebaku to return all government property in his possession.
Idaiye also warned that security agencies could be brought into the matter if the former Speaker failed to comply with the directive or respond to the House.
The latest development is expected to generate further political and legal attention, particularly over the circumstances surrounding Agbebaku’s purported resignation and the subsequent decision by lawmakers to treat the matter as an impeachment.
For now, the Edo State House of Assembly has a new Speaker and a significantly altered leadership structure, but the controversy surrounding Agbebaku’s removal appears far from over.