By Elvira Jordan
The lawmaker representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, Yekini Idiaye, has emerged as the new Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, following the resignation of Blessing Agbebaku from the position.
Idiaye, a third-term member of the Assembly, was elected Speaker on Monday, shortly after Agbebaku stepped down amid moves by some lawmakers to impeach him.
His emergence followed the Assembly’s long-standing gentleman’s zoning arrangement, which guides the distribution of key leadership positions among the senatorial districts in the state.
According to the arrangement, whenever the governor of Edo State comes from the Edo Central Senatorial District, the Speakership of the House should be occupied by a lawmaker from Edo North.
With Governor Monday Okpebholo from Edo Central, lawmakers reportedly settled on Idiaye, who is the oldest-serving member representing Edo North in the Assembly.
The new Speaker subsequently assumed the leadership of the House following his election by his colleagues.
Idiaye’s emergence comes at a politically sensitive moment for the Edo State House of Assembly, which has been thrown into a fresh leadership transition following Agbebaku’s resignation.
Agbebaku’s resignation was confirmed earlier on Monday by his media aide, Ivy Adodo-Ebojele, who announced that the Speaker had stepped down without immediately providing details about the circumstances surrounding his departure.
His resignation followed reported moves by some lawmakers to remove him from office, although details of the grievances that prompted the impeachment moves have not been fully disclosed.
With the election of Idiaye, attention will now shift to the new leadership and its plans for stabilising the Assembly and ensuring the effective discharge of its legislative responsibilities.
As a third-term lawmaker and the longest-serving member from Edo North, Idiaye is expected to bring his legislative experience to the leadership of the House as lawmakers seek to move beyond the recent leadership crisis.
