Claims and counterclaims have emerged over the resignation of the immediate past Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, with his successor, Yekini Idiaye, alleging poor leadership and corruption, while Agbebaku said he stepped down for personal reasons and in the interest of peace and the state.

Idiaye, a three-term lawmaker representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, emerged as Speaker during Monday’s plenary after Agbebaku resigned amid moves by lawmakers to remove him from office.

Agbebaku reportedly resigned after learning that lawmakers had signed a notice seeking his removal. Reports differed on the exact number of lawmakers who endorsed the move, with figures of 17 and 18 out of the 24-member Assembly being cited.

The constitutional requirement for removing a Speaker is two-thirds of the membership of the House, which amounts to 16 lawmakers.

Idiaye alleges poor leadership

Speaking to journalists after the plenary, Idiaye said lawmakers had become dissatisfied with the way the Assembly was administered under Agbebaku since its inauguration in June 2023.

The new Speaker accused his predecessor of poor leadership, alleged corruption and prolonged adjournments, which he said hampered the work of the legislature.

“The House was inaugurated on the 16th of June, 2023 under the leadership of the former 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 backwards,” Idiaye said.

He said the lawmakers therefore decided to change the leadership of the House.

“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,” he said.

Agbebaku says resignation was for peace

Agbebaku, however, rejected the suggestion that his resignation was connected to the allegations made by his colleagues.

In a statement issued through his media aide, Ivy Ebojele, the former Speaker said he resigned for personal reasons and in the interest of peace, Edo State and his constituency.

He maintained that differences among lawmakers were normal and did not prevent the Assembly from passing what he described as people-oriented bills and resolutions during his tenure.

“Differences will naturally arise because we all have our individual identities and beliefs. However, that did not stop us from passing people-oriented Bills and Resolutions in the last three years of my leadership,” Agbebaku said.

He said the decision to leave office was taken after considering the broader interests of the state and his constituents.

“My decision to resign was taken in the interest of peace, the state, and my immediate constituency, Owan West,” he said.

Agbebaku also thanked Governor Monday Okpebholo for what he described as the governor’s support and cooperation during his tenure.

“I appreciate the Governor, Distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo, for his support and cooperation during my tenure,” he said.