Edo Assembly Speaker resigns

The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, has resigned.

Agbebaku’s media aide, Ivy Ebojele, confirmed his resignation on Monday, August 17, 2026.

Agbebaku stepped down after lawmakers plotted to impeach him.

Ebojele said details of Agbebaku’s resignation would be made public later.

Agbebaku, who represents Owan West Constituency, was elected Speaker of the Eighth Assembly in June 2023.

His leadership came under intense pressure in May 2024 after he suspended three lawmakers over an alleged plot to impeach him and other principal officers of the Assembly.

Agbebaku said the purported impeachment move was being orchestrated by external forces and further alleged that charms and ritual items had been brought into the Assembly complex as part of the plot.

The suspended lawmakers, who were considered allies of former Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu and, by extension, former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, rejected the allegations. They described their suspension as politically motivated and denied involvement in any impeachment plan.

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The crisis deepened political divisions within the Assembly, with the affected lawmakers insisting that the Speaker’s action was aimed at silencing dissenting voices.

In May 2025, Agbebaku formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a move widely seen as an attempt to consolidate his political future amid mounting pressure over his position.

Despite his defection, some APC leaders reportedly continued to push for his removal, arguing that the Assembly should be led by a long-standing party member from his senatorial district rather than a recent convert from the PDP.

However, Governor Monday Okpebholo was said to have thrown his weight behind Agbebaku, citing the Speaker’s loyalty and his role in ensuring smooth legislative support for the administration’s programmes and policies.