Rita Enemuru, Reporting
Benin City – The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chief Blessing Agbebaku, has resigned from his position, plunging the state legislature into a fresh leadership crisis.
Mr Agbebaku stepped down on Monday amid mounting pressure from some lawmakers who had begun mobilising to oust him through impeachment proceedings .
His resignation was confirmed via a Facebook post by his media aide, Ivy Ebojele, who announced that further details concerning the circumstances of his departure would be disclosed at a later date .
“Edo Assembly Speaker Rt Hon Chief Blessing Agbebaku resigns,” she wrote.
Mr Agbebaku, who represents the Owan West constituency, has been Speaker since 2023.
He initially won the position on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in January 2025, along with several other lawmakers, shifting the balance of power in the 24-member House .
His tenure has been marked by political turbulence, with critics accusing him of maintaining ties to his former party while aligning with the current administration .
Although Governor Monday Okpebholo was reportedly backing the Speaker’s tenure to ensure the smooth passage of executive bills, pressure from within the Assembly ultimately proved insurmountable .
Following Mr Agbebaku’s resignation, the Assembly must now select a new Speaker.
Reports indicate that the Deputy Speaker, Osawmonyi Atu, who represents the Orhiownmon I constituency, has been elected as his successor .
