BREAKING: EDO ASSEMBLY GETS NEW SPEAKER

A member representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, Yekini Idiaye, has emerged as the new Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly.

Idiaye, a third-term lawmaker, succeeds Blessing Agbebaku, who resigned as Speaker on Monday amid alleged moves by lawmakers to impeach him.

His emergence was reportedly influenced by the Assembly’s zoning arrangement, which provides that when the governor comes from the Edo Central Senatorial District, the Speaker should come from Edo North.

Idiaye, being the oldest member from Edo North in the Assembly, was subsequently elected Speaker.

The new Speaker said that without the zoning arrangement, the Deputy Speaker would have automatically succeeded Agbebaku.

PUNCH Online gathered that members of the Assembly visited the Government House to inform Governor Monday Okpebholo of the change in leadership.

Agbebaku was reportedly pressured to resign following moves by lawmakers to impeach him, with 17 of the 24 lawmakers said to have signed a notice of impeachment on Sunday night.

His resignation was confirmed by his media aide, Ivy Ebojele, who said further details would be made public later.