The new Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Yekini Idiaye, has given a blunt account of why his predecessor, Blessing Agbebaku, was forced out of office, accusing him of poor leadership, corruption and stalling the work of government.

Idiaye, a third-term lawmaker representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, was elected Speaker after Agbebaku resigned in the face of an impeachment plot reportedly backed by a clear majority of legislators.

Speaking with journalists after plenary, Idiaye said the House had endured months of frustration under Agbebaku’s watch. He alleged that the Assembly was repeatedly adjourned for long stretches without justification, undermining its constitutional role.

According to Idiaye, the House, inaugurated under Agbebaku in June 2023, “has been passing through a lot of challenges, corruption here and there, adjournment here and there, sometimes for 30 days without a cause.” He described the former Speaker’s leadership as “poor” and said it had “been drawing the work of the government backwards.”

Idiaye framed the leadership change as a necessary step to protect the legislative agenda and to align the Assembly with the priorities of Governor Monday Okpebholo. He insisted that lawmakers could not allow internal crises to derail the administration.

“That is why we removed him,” Idiaye said, adding that the House must “encourage our performing governor” and “stop anything that will derail or stop” him. He pledged that the Assembly under his leadership would “do everything possible to support Governor Monday Okpebholo to move this state forward.”

Legislative sources indicated that Idiaye’s emergence also reflected the Assembly’s zoning formula, which stipulates that when the governor comes from Edo Central Senatorial District, the Speaker should be produced by Edo North. As the most senior lawmaker from Edo North, Idiaye became the consensus choice.

Agbebaku’s exit followed reports that 17 of the 24 members had signed an impeachment notice against him. Facing near-certain removal, he tendered his resignation, which was later confirmed by his media aide, Ivy Ebojele, who said details would be released subsequently.

Lawmakers later proceeded to the Government House to formally brief Governor Okpebholo on the shake-up, signaling a new political alignment in the state legislature and a decisive break from Agbebaku’s troubled tenure.