By Agboola Aluko | GLiDE NEWS, Benin City
I n a dramatic shift within the Edo State political landscape, the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday officially took control of the Edo State House of Assembly, marking a pivotal moment in the state's legislative power dynamics.
At the Assembly's plenary session, Speaker Blessing Agbebaku read a formal letter from the APC leadership announcing the appointment of new principal officers. The announcement confirmed Jonathan Aigbokhan (APC–Esan West) as the new Majority Leader, Addeh Isibor as Deputy Majority Leader, and Mustapha Lucky as Chief Whip.
The changes come in the wake of defections that have reshaped the Assembly's composition. With four lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party crossing over to the APC, the party now holds 13 of the 24 seats, giving it a new majority. The PDP’s strength has dropped to 11 members.
One casualty of the restructuring is the position of Deputy Chief Whip, previously held by Richard Edosa (Oredo West), which has now been scrapped. Edosa, who formerly belonged to the Labour Party, is among the defectors that bolstered the APC’s majority status.
Despite the shift, Speaker Agbebaku called for unity across party lines, urging lawmakers to work together to ensure the continued success of the current administration under Governor Monday Okpebholo.
“What matters is that we all work together to ensure the success of Governor Monday Okpebholo,” Agbebaku emphasized.
APC Presses INEC for Urgent By-Elections
In a related development, the Edo State APC Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, has issued a stern ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding the immediate conduct of by-elections to fill two vacant federal legislative seats in the state.
The vacancies were created after Governor Monday Okpebholo resigned from his role as Senator representing Edo Central to contest the governorship election, while Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa vacated his seat as a member of the House of Representatives for Ovia North East/South West.
Speaking in Benin on Monday, Tenebe criticized INEC’s delay, calling it a breach of constitutional responsibility and an affront to democratic representation.
“The people of Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia North East/South West Federal Constituency have been without proper representation for three months now,” he said. “This is against the spirit and letter of our constitution and democratic norms.”
Tenebe challenged INEC to conduct the elections without further delay or delegate the responsibility to the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) if it lacked the capacity to act swiftly.
“If INEC is financially incapacitated or lacks the will to conduct these elections, then it should cede the responsibility to the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission,” he declared.
He further warned that ongoing delays risk eroding public trust in the democratic system.
“This inaction sends the wrong message. It undermines the very essence of democracy, which thrives on representation and participation.”
With political tensions rising and 2027 on the horizon, the developments in Edo State underscore the high-stakes battle for political dominance—both within the state and on the national stage.
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