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

It was gathered that Agbebaku resigned early Monday morning after receiving information that 18 out of the 24 assembly members have signed his impeachment notice as at Sunday night.

The Guardian 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.

Yekini Idiaye, member representing Akoko-Edo Constituency 1, and a third term member of the assembly is now the new Speaker.

Ordinarily, when the Speaker resigns or is impeached, his deputy automatically takes over but due to the gentle man zoning arrangement, which dictates that when the governor comes from the Central Senatorial District, the Speaker must come from the North Senatorial District, Yekini, being the oldest member from the zone was made Speaker.

Addressing journalists shortly after plenary, the new Speaker accused the former Speaker of corruption, and not carrying out his speakership job as expected.

Yekini said: “The House was inaugurated on the 16th 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.”

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.”

At the time of filing this report, all the members of the House came out, hopped into waiting vehicles and onwardly drove out of the premises apparently driving to the Government House.