A leadership change is on the horizon in the Edo State House of Assembly as the All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially informed the House of its new majority status.
On Tuesday, Speaker Blessing Agbebaku confirmed receiving a letter from the APC, notifying the Assembly of the party’s increased membership following the defection of four lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Although the letter was not made public, it signals a significant political shift in the House.
The defecting PDP lawmakers are Donald Okugbe (Akoko Edo Constituency II), Bright Iyamu (Orhionmwon South Constituency II), Richard Edosa (Oredo West Constituency), and Sunday Ojezele (Esan South East).
With this development, the All Progressives Congress (APC) now holds a majority in the Edo State House of Assembly, with 13 members, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 11. The Labour Party also lost its sole representative to the APC.
In a letter titled “Notification of APC Majority Status in the Edo State House of Assembly,” the APC formally declared its new majority following the defections. The letter also stated that the party would inform the House of any consequential actions regarding this shift at the appropriate time.
Speaker Blessing Agbebaku acknowledged the APC’s majority status, stating, “Going by this letter, it means APC now has a majority in the House.” He extended his best wishes to the defected lawmakers, saying, “I want to wish the decampees well, and I wish them good endeavours.”
The Speaker further indicated that he was awaiting another letter from the APC to officially nominate its principal officers, signaling impending changes in the House’s leadership.
