Blessing Agbebaku resigns from office amid reported plot by lawmakers to remove him, plunging the Assembly into fresh leadership crisis.
The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chief Blessing Agbebaku, has tendered his resignation from office. His departure comes amid mounting political tension and reports of an alleged plot by some lawmakers to initiate impeachment proceedings against him .
Agbebaku stepped down on Monday, August 17, 2026. His media aide, Ivy Adodo-Ebojele, confirmed the development in a brief Facebook post, indicating that further details regarding the circumstances of his exit would be disclosed later .
The Speaker’s resignation marks a significant turning point in the state’s legislature, plunging it into a leadership vacuum. Lawmakers are now expected to begin the process of electing a successor to steer the affairs of the House .
Agbebaku, who was elected Speaker in June 2023, presided over the Assembly during a period of significant political realignment. He notably defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2025, a move that reshaped the balance of power in the House and strengthened the ruling party’s influence .
His resignation is seen by political observers as a pre-emptive move to avoid a formal impeachment. The development is expected to have far-reaching implications for governance and political stability in Edo State as the Assembly navigates this leadership crisis. No official statement has been issued by the House regarding an interim leadership or the timeline for electing a new Speaker .