By: Titus Oise, Benin.
The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon.Blessing Agbebaku, and the Majority Leader, Jonathan Ibhamawu, have been forced to resign following alleged intense pressure from government House.
Both lawmakers were also suspended indefinitely during a brief plenary session on Monday that lasted less than 20 minutes.
Sources said Agbebaku, who represents Owan West Constituency, bowed to pressure after aggrieved lawmakers,with full support by Governor Monday Okpebholo – led government initiated an impeachment plot against him.
To avoid a full-blown legislative crisis, the embattled Speaker opted for a “soft-landing” by resigning his position.
Ibhamawu, who represents Esan West Constituency, was also removed and suspended alongside him.
The hurriedly held plenary was presided over by the Deputy speaker, Hon.Osawonyi Atu (Orhionwon East Constituency) and Hon. Yekini Idaiye (Akoko-Edo I Constituency), was subsequently sworn in as the new Speaker.
The House also elected new principal officers, namely: Ojiezele Osezua Sunday (Esan South-East Constituency), Majority Leader; Inegbeboh Ojie Eugene (Esan North-East I) Deputy Majority Leader; Natasha Osawaru Irobosa, (Egor Constituency, NDC) Minority Leader;
The sudden leadership change has effectively reconfigured the power structure of the 8th Edo State House of Assembly.
