Benin City, Edo State – The Edo State House of Assembly on Monday formally impeached its former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, converting what had been presented as his resignation into an impeachment and maintaining his indefinite suspension.
Agbebaku, who represents Owan West Constituency, announced his resignation as Speaker on Monday, August 17, 2026, amid reports that 17 of the 24 members of the House had signed an impeachment notice against him.
The House then elected Hon. Yekini Idaiye (also referred to as Idiaye in some reports), the lawmaker representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, as the new Speaker.
It also indefinitely suspended Agbebaku and removed two other principal officers: Jonathan Ibhamawu (Esan West) as Majority Leader, replaced by Ojiezele Osezua Sunday (Esan South-East), and Addeh Emankhu Isibor (Esan North-East I) as Deputy Majority Leader, replaced by Inegbeboh Ojie Eugene (Igueben).
During Monday’s plenary, Speaker Idaiye informed the House that the impeachment notice, signed by 17 members, had been formally presented by the Majority Leader the previous week.
He stated that Agbebaku’s resignation notice had not been officially presented or documented before the suspension, and therefore the House was converting the matter to impeachment. “The former Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, was impeached and did not resign from office,” Idaiye said.
The motion for formal impeachment was moved by the new Majority Leader, Sunny Ojiezele (also referred to as Ojiezele Osezua Sunday), and seconded by Ahmed Waziri, the member representing Etsako Central. The House maintained Agbebaku’s indefinite suspension and directed him to return all government property in his possession. Speaker Idaiye warned that security agencies would be engaged if he failed to comply.
The leadership change has been linked by the new Speaker and supporting lawmakers to dissatisfaction with Agbebaku’s leadership style, prolonged adjournments of the House, and allegations of financial impropriety, including claims of inflated costs for official vehicles such as Lexus and Toyota Hilux models. Idaiye has previously described the previous leadership as having hindered the effective functioning of the Assembly and support for Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration. Zoning considerations were also cited, with the speakership expected to go to Edo North given that the governor is from Edo Central.
Agbebaku, originally elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party before later defecting to the All Progressives Congress, had indicated through his media aide that further details on his August 17 resignation would be provided later. He has previously framed his decision in terms of personal reasons and the interest of peace in the state and his constituency.
The formal impeachment marks a further escalation in the ongoing leadership crisis in the Eighth Assembly. As of Monday’s proceedings, Agbebaku remains suspended and has been ordered to surrender government assets. The House continues under the leadership of Speaker Yekini Idaiye.
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