Yekini Idiaye, representing Akoko-Edo Constituency 1, has been elected as the new Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly.
His emergence follows the resignation of the former Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku.
Idiaye, who is serving his third term in the Assembly, assumed the position on Monday after Agbebaku stepped down from office amid reports of an impending impeachment move by the lawmakers.
His emergence followed an existing zoning understanding withing the Assembly, which stipulates that the Speaker should come from Edo North Senatorial District while the governor is from Edo Central Senatorial District.
As the most senior lawmaker in Edo North, Idiaye was subsequently chosen to lead the legislative arm of government in the state.
Speaking after his emergence, the new Speaker said the absence of the zoning arrangement, the Deputy Speaker would ordinarily have succeeded Agbebaku.
Earlier on Monday, Blessing Agbebaku resigned as Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, bringing an end to his tenure as head of legislature amid growing political tensions within the chamber.
9News Nigeria reports that 2/3 (16 members) signation is needed to impeach the Speaker.
His resignation was confirmed by his media aide, Ivy Ebojele, adding that details of his resignation would be made public later.
Addressing journalists shortly after plenary, the new Speaker accused the former Speaker of corruption, and not carrying out his speakership job as expected.
“The House was inaugurated on the 26th of June, 2023 under the leadership of the formal Speaker, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, and since then we have been passing through a lot of challenges — corruption here and there, adjournment here and there, sometimes for 30 days without a cause. We are not happy with his leadership style.His leadership is poor and it has been drawing the work of the government backward”, Yekini said.
He claimed Agbebaku was removed by the members. Yekini added “That is why we removed him. We must encourage our performing governor. He is doing well, anything that will derail or stop our performing governor, we must stop it.That is why we changed him. I can assure all of you that we will do everything possible to support Governor Monday Okpebholo to move this State forward”.
-9News Nigeria.
