Yekini Idiaye Elected New Speaker of Edo Assembly

Yekini Idiaye, representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, has been elected as the new Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, taking over from Blessing Agbebaku, who resigned on Monday. Agbebaku's resignation followed alleged moves by lawmakers to impeach him, with 17 out of 24 lawmakers signing an impeachment notice the previous night.

Idiaye, a third-term lawmaker, was elected based on the Assembly's zoning arrangement, which stipulates that when the governor is from the Edo Central Senatorial District, the Speaker should come from Edo North. As the oldest member from Edo North, Idiaye was chosen for the role.

Without this zoning arrangement, the Deputy Speaker would have automatically succeeded Agbebaku. Following his election, members of the Assembly visited Governor Monday Okpebholo to inform him of the leadership change.

Agbebaku's media aide, Ivy Ebojele, confirmed the resignation but stated that further details would be released later.