Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Edo State House of Assembly has executed a stunning political about-face, formally impeaching its immediate past Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, a full eight days after he resigned from the position. The dramatic move, which took place on Monday, August 24, 2026, has thrown the state's political landscape into turmoil and sparked a fierce legal debate over the constitutionality of impeaching a man who no longer holds the office. In a session that reeked of political desperation, the lawmakers, now led by new Speaker Yekini Idiaye, rejected Agbebaku's earlier resignation and declared that he had been impeached all along.
The impeachment motion, moved by Majority Leader Sunny Ojiezele and seconded by Ahmed Waziri, was backed by 17 of the 24 members of the House. The new Speaker claimed that Agbebaku's resignation was never formally presented or documented before the House, and thus, the indefinite suspension previously imposed on him was effectively converted into an impeachment. This revisionist history has effectively rewritten the narrative of Agbebaku's exit, turning what was initially a voluntary resignation into a formal dismissal. In a further escalation, the House directed Agbebaku to return all government property in his possession and threatened to deploy security agencies if he fails to comply.
The genesis of the crisis began on August 17, 2026, when Agbebaku resigned amid reports of an impending impeachment plot by his colleagues. He was subsequently suspended indefinitely, and Yekini Idiaye was elected as the new Speaker. The political drama intensified when the Assembly, just a week later, decided to retroactively change the nature of his departure. The new Speaker, Idiaye, justifying the action, stated, "Agbebaku was impeached and did not resign from the office". However, this assertion is contradicted by Agbebaku's own public statement that he stepped aside "for personal reasons and in the interest of peace". His resignation was widely reported and accepted as fact until the Assembly's latest move.
The legality of the Assembly's action has been immediately and fiercely questioned. Lawyers have condemned the move as unconstitutional and procedurally absurd. A former Chief Whip of the Edo Assembly, Paschal Ugbomeh, queried what offence the lawmakers were seeking to impeach Agbebaku for after he had already resigned, stating, "It is funny to hear that a House of Assembly impeached a former Speaker who had resigned". Afebu Aigbonoga, another legal practitioner, argued that neither the 1999 Constitution nor the House rules provide for converting a resignation into an impeachment, particularly after a successor has already been elected. He noted that resignation is a voluntary act that vacates the office, leaving nothing to impeach. This legal challenge suggests that the Assembly's action may be more about political vengeance than constitutional propriety.
The impeachment of Agbebaku is the latest twist in the ongoing political realignment in Edo State. New Speaker Yekini Idiaye had previously cited "poor leadership, alleged corruption and frequent adjournment of the Assembly" as reasons for Agbebaku's removal. In a pattern of political purging, the House also removed the Majority Leader and Deputy Majority Leader, replacing them with loyalists. This consolidation of power suggests that the impeachment is not merely about Agbebaku but about establishing absolute control over the legislative arm of government. The Assembly also passed two key bills aimed at strengthening financial autonomy, sending a clear signal about the direction of the new leadership.
With the Assembly now formally recording Agbebaku's exit as an impeachment, the former Speaker faces a new battle to clear his name. The coming days will likely see the matter head to the courts, where the legality of this extraordinary political theatre will be tested. For the people of Edo State, the unfolding drama raises serious questions about the integrity and stability of their legislative institution, as it appears more focused on settling political scores than on governance.
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