The political dynamics in the Edo State House of Assembly took a new turn as Hon. Natasha Osawaru Irobosa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was removed as Minority Leader following a shift in the party’s majority status.
Also affected in the shake-up were:
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Hon. Charity Aiguobarueghian, previously the Majority Leader
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Hon. Yekini Idaiye, who served as Chief Whip
Despite the reshuffle, Speaker Blessing Agbebaku and Deputy Speaker Maria Edeko, both PDP members, retained their positions.
Shift in Majority Power
The changes followed a letter to the Assembly from the state’s Acting APC Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, confirming the defection of four PDP lawmakers to the All Progressives Congress (APC) — causing PDP to lose its majority in the House.
New Leadership Appointments
The Assembly, now leaning in favour of APC, has announced new principal officers:
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Majority Leader: Hon. Ibhamawu Jonathan Aigbokhan (APC, Esan West)
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Deputy Leader: Hon. Addeh Emakhu Isibor (APC, Esan North-East I)
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Chief Whip: Hon. Lecky Hussein Mustapha (APC, Etsako West I)
Speaker Agbebaku stated that the PDP leadership will submit its revised list of nominees for other principal roles soon.
He also noted that despite the internal reshuffling, the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker remain unaffected by the recent defections — at least for now.
Why It Matters
This political shift underscores the volatile nature of party loyalties in Nigerian state politics. With APC gaining legislative strength in Edo, the balance of power could significantly influence policy direction and upcoming political decisions ahead of the 2025 general elections.
