Governor tells Idaiye to carry all lawmakers along as new leadership moves to restore stability in Edo Assembly
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has met with the newly elected Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Yekini Idaiye, urging him to put political differences aside and lead the legislature with unity, transparency and fairness.
The meeting, held at the Government House in Benin City on Monday, came barely hours after the resignation of the former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, and the emergence of Idaiye as the new leader of the 24-member Assembly.
The change in leadership has opened a fresh political chapter in the Edo legislature, following weeks of reported tension and moves by lawmakers to remove Agbebaku from office.
Governor Okpebholo, while receiving the new Speaker and other members of the House, said political positions were temporary and should not be treated as personal property.
He urged Idaiye to understand the weight of the new office and avoid any action capable of creating another division among lawmakers.
“We must put arrogance aside to serve our people better because today we are here and tomorrow we don’t know where we will be,” the governor said.
Okpebholo also made it clear that whatever disagreements may have taken place inside the Assembly should remain within the legislature and should not be allowed to destroy the working relationship between lawmakers and the executive arm of government.
“It is a new leadership. I don’t know what happened. Whatever must have happened in the House is for the House, and it remains there,” he said.
The governor, who himself had experience as a parliamentarian, reminded the lawmakers that members of the legislature must respect one another despite political differences.
His message to the new Speaker was direct: leadership must be based on responsibility, consultation and transparency.
“It is not just to be a leader, but a responsible leader. You are not just assuming a new office to be just an ordinary speaker. You should know that you are now carrying the shoulders of many people and you have to be transparent with your colleagues. You have to carry everybody along,” Okpebholo said.
The governor warned that ignoring other members of the House could create fresh political problems and return the Assembly to the type of disagreement that had surrounded its leadership.
His remarks came after a dramatic change at the Assembly earlier in the day.
Agbebaku, who represented Owan West Constituency, resigned as Speaker during plenary before Idaiye was elected to replace him.
The former Speaker said he accepted the decision in the interest of peace in Edo State.
Agbebaku thanked Governor Okpebholo for the support he received during his time in office and said he had no choice but to respect the governor’s position if it was aimed at maintaining peace in the state.
“I think I have no choice but to obey his decision. We want peace in the state. And I have resigned,” Agbebaku said.
His resignation ended his tenure as Speaker and paved the way for the election of Idaiye, who represents Akoko-Edo I Constituency.
Idaiye emerged Speaker after receiving 17 of the 24 votes cast by members of the House.
His nomination was made by Hon. Sunny Ojezele, representing Esan South-East Constituency, and seconded by Hon. Eric Okaka, representing Owan East Constituency.
The development means the Edo Assembly has moved from an Owan West Speaker to an Akoko-Edo Speaker, a change that has already attracted political attention across Edo North and the wider state.
Idaiye is a member of the All Progressives Congress and represents Akoko-Edo I Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly.
Following his election, the new Speaker promised to introduce a different approach to legislative business and ensure that the Assembly focuses on lawmaking and effective oversight.
He criticised what he described as disruptions to plenary and delays in legislative activities, insisting that the House must return fully to its constitutional responsibilities.
“Parliament is about lawmaking, not a place of social meeting where only one decides when to sit or not to sit as presently practised,” Idaiye said.
The new Speaker also raised allegations concerning the administration of his predecessor, including issues surrounding the procurement of Lexus 570 vehicles and Hilux vans.
He called for the allegations to be properly investigated and directed security agencies to ensure that official functions attached to the office of Speaker were not extended to Agbebaku pending the outcome of the process.
The claims are allegations and would require proper investigation and response from those concerned.
The leadership change did not stop with the office of Speaker.
There were also changes in some principal positions within the Assembly.
A communication from Edo APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, who was present during plenary, announced Hon. Sunday Ojezele as the new Majority Leader, replacing Hon. Jonathan Ibhamawu.
Hon. Eugene Inegbeboh, representing Igueben Constituency, emerged Deputy Majority Leader, replacing Hon. Adeh Isibor.
On the opposition side, Hon. Uyi Omisigho, representing Oredo West, was designated Minority Whip, while Hon. Natasha Osawaru Idibia, representing Egor Constituency, was named Minority Leader.
The changes have effectively altered the political arrangement inside the House.
But beyond the appointments and positions, the bigger question is whether the new leadership can prevent another round of crisis and maintain a stable relationship with the executive.
Governor Okpebholo appeared determined to make that point during his meeting with Idaiye.
He told the Speaker that every lawmaker must be treated with respect and given a sense of belonging.
“Everyone is saying good things about you. I want you to remain the way they have described you,” the governor said.
He also expressed hope that the House would enjoy peace for the remainder of the current Assembly.
“I want us to have a peaceful House. For about two years, there have never been crises in the House. And I pray that in another two years, there will be no crises in the House,” he said.
Idaiye, responding to the governor, said the new leadership had come to formally introduce itself and assure the governor of the Assembly’s readiness to work with his administration.
He pledged that the legislature would provide the necessary support to advance the development agenda of Edo State.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Yakubu Musa; Edo APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe; and members of the party’s State Working Committee.
The latest development has therefore placed Idaiye at the centre of Edo State’s legislative politics at a critical period.
For the new Speaker, the immediate challenge will be to consolidate his position, maintain the confidence of lawmakers and ensure that the Assembly does not become another battleground for political disagreements.
For Governor Okpebholo, the stability of the Assembly is also important because a cooperative legislature can make government business easier, while a divided House can slow down legislation, oversight and other constitutional duties.
The political change has also reopened discussions about the balance of influence across Edo North, particularly following the movement of the speakership from Owan West to Akoko-Edo.
While the election of a new Speaker is within the constitutional powers of the Assembly, the political implications of the development are already being discussed by stakeholders across the senatorial district.
For now, the message from the Government House is clear: the political drama surrounding the former Speaker must not become a permanent distraction, and the new leadership is expected to focus on legislation, oversight, accountability and the wider interests of Edo people.
The real test, however, will come inside the chamber.
Idaiye now has the responsibility of proving that the new political arrangement can produce a more united, transparent and functional Edo State House of Assembly.
