The Edo State House of Assembly has removed Hon. Natasha Osawaru Irobosa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from her position as Minority Leader, marking a significant shift in the chamber’s leadership structure. The announcement, made on Monday, is part of a broader restructuring triggered by recent political defections.
Hon. Charity Aiguobarueghian, also of the PDP, was similarly stripped of her role as Majority Leader. Meanwhile, Hon. Yekini Idaiye, another PDP lawmaker, lost his position as Chief Whip. Despite the shake-up, PDP lawmakers Hon. Blessing Agbebaku and Hon. Maria Edeko have held onto their roles as Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively—for now.
The changes stem from a letter submitted by Jarret Tenebe, acting chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, following the defection of four PDP lawmakers to the APC. This shift has cost the PDP its majority in the Assembly, prompting the realignment of key positions. Speaker Agbebaku, in his address, confirmed that the defections necessitated the restructuring and revealed that the PDP leadership is expected to submit a new list of nominees for principal offices soon.
Agbebaku also hinted at further uncertainty, noting that the evolving political landscape could still impact his position and that of Deputy Speaker Edeko. “The current changes might still affect my role and that of the Deputy Speaker, depending on the dynamics,” he said.
In the wake of the defections, the Speaker announced new appointments to several key roles, though specific names were not disclosed during the session. The move reflects the intensifying rivalry between the PDP and APC in Edo State as both parties jostle for control ahead of future political contests.
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