The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, on Monday resigned from his position amid an alleged impeachment plot by some aggrieved lawmakers.
The Majority Leader, Jonathan Ibhamawu, representing Esan West Constituency, was also removed from office, alongside the former Deputy Majority Leader, Addeh Emankhu Isibor, representing Esan North East I Constituency.
The leadership changes took place during a brief plenary session that lasted less than 30 minutes, as the Assembly witnessed a major shake up in its leadership.
Sources close to the Assembly said Agbebaku’s resignation followed mounting pressure from lawmakers and moves to impeach him, amid growing disagreements within the legislative chamber.
The Speaker was said to have opted for what was described as a soft landing by resigning his position rather than allowing the situation to degenerate into a full-blown legislative crisis.
Following his resignation, the Deputy Speaker, Yekini Idaiyi, representing Akoko-Edo II Constituency, presided over the sitting and was subsequently sworn in as the new Speaker of the Assembly.
In another leadership change, Ojiezele Osezua Sunday, representing Esan South-East Constituency, emerged as the new Majority Leader, replacing Ibhamawu, while Inegbeboh Ojie Eugene was elected Deputy Majority Leader in place of Isibor.
The Assembly also effected a change in the minority leadership, with Natasha Osawaru Irobosa, representing Egor Constituency on the platform of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), emerging as the new Minority Leader, replacing Charity Iguodala of Ovia North-East I Constituency.