Nomination of Principal Officers of the Edo State House of Assembly
Tuface new Lover, Natasha Osawaru, a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), was ousted from her position on April 7, 2025, together with Charity Aiguobarueghian, the leader of the majority, and the Chief Whip, the Honorable Yekini Idaiye.
A letter from Jarret Tenebe, the acting chairman of the APC in Edo State, is said to have been the impetus for the changes that took place in the Edo State House of Assembly.
However, the seats of Speaker and Deputy Speaker, were retained by the Honorable Blessing Agbebaku and Maria Edeko, both of whom are members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Agbebaku, who read the letter that was delivered to him by Jarret Tenebe, the interim state chairman of the APC, declared a small change in the major officers of the House of Representatives.
In the House of Representatives, Charity Aiguobarueghian, Natasha Osawaru Irobosa, and Yekini Idaiye were dismissed from their positions as Majority Leader, Deputy Leader, and Chief Whip of the House, respectively. Natasha Osawaru Irobosa was removed from Egor, while Yekini Idaiye was removed from Akoko-Edo I.
Ibhamawu Jonathan Aigbokhan, APC, Esan West, Addeh Emakhu Isibor, APC, Esan North-East I, and Lecky Hussein Mustapha, APC, Etsako West I, were appointed to their respective positions as Majority Leader, Deputy Leader, and Chief Whip of the House, taking the place of the three individuals who had previously held such positions.
Richard Edosa, who represented the Oredo West constituency, was first appointed to the office of Deputy Chief Whip; however, this position was ultimately cancelled because there was no other position of its kind in the legislature.
The letter partly read, “We write to refer you to our earlier correspondence dated 14th March, 2025 to your office notifying you of the majority status of our party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the Edo State House of Assembly.
“Consequently, we hereby forward to you the party’s nomination of principal officers’ position in the House.
“Majority Leader, Hon Ibhamawu Jonathan Aigbokhan, Esan West constituency, Deputy Majority Leader, Hon Emakhu Addeh Isibor, Esan North-East I, and Chief Whip, Hon Lecky Hussein Mustapha, Etsako West constituency.”
Speaker Agbebaku said the PDP would also present its principal officer nominees. He also said that the House leadership transition threatened his and the Deputy Speaker’s positions.