“He did not resign” — Edo assembly impeaches Agbebaku eight days later

The Edo State House of Assembly has formally impeached its suspended Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, eight days after he announced his resignation from the leadership of the House.

Mr Agbebaku, who represents Owan West Constituency I, had resigned as Speaker on Monday, 17 August 2026, amid a leadership crisis in the Assembly. However, the House on Monday formally converted his suspension to impeachment and elected Yekini Idaiye, representing Akoko-Edo I, as his replacement.

The new Speaker, Mr Idaiye, said the impeachment notice against Mr Agbebaku was signed by 17 lawmakers and formally presented by the Majority Leader during the previous Monday’s plenary.

According to Mr Idaiye, the House decided to convert Agbebaku’s indefinite suspension to impeachment because his resignation notice had not been officially presented and documented after his suspension.

He stressed that Mr Agbebaku was impeached and did not resign from office.

The motion for the formal impeachment was moved by the Majority Leader, Sunny Ojiezele, and seconded by the member representing Etsako Central, Ahmed Waziri.

New Speaker directs Agbebaku to return government property

Following the impeachment, Mr Idaiye directed the former Speaker to return all government property in his possession.

He also warned that security agencies could be engaged if Mr Agbebaku failed to comply with the directive.

“This is to let the public know that the Edo State House of Assembly has formally impeached the suspended Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku.

“And the impeached Speaker is to return all government property in his possession, and security agencies would be engaged if the former Speaker fails to comply with the directive of the House,” Mr Idaiye said.

Leadership crisis deepens

The latest development marks another turn in the leadership crisis that has rocked the Edo State House of Assembly.

Mr Agbebaku’s resignation on 17 August had already paved the way for Mr Idaiye’s emergence as Speaker. However, the House’s decision eight days later to formally impeach him has now altered the circumstances surrounding his exit from office.

The development is expected to generate further political and legal attention, particularly over the circumstances surrounding Mr Agbebaku’s earlier resignation and the decision by lawmakers to subsequently treat the matter as an impeachment.