The Edo State House of Assembly has removed Hon. Natasha Osawaru Irobosa, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the partner of Nigerian music legend 2Face Idibia, from her position as Minority Leader.
This decision comes as part of a leadership change in the Assembly, which saw the removal of other PDP leaders, including Hon. Charity Aiguobarueghian, the Majority Leader, and Hon. Yekini Idaiye, the Chief Whip.
However, despite these changes, PDP members Hon. Blessing Agbebaku and Maria Edeko, who serve as Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively, retained their positions.
The reshuffle followed a significant shift in the political balance of the Assembly after four PDP lawmakers defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), resulting in the PDP losing its majority.
The Speaker of the House, Hon. Agbebaku, announced that the new Majority Leader is now Hon. Ibhamawu Jonathan Aigbokhan (APC – Esan West), with Hon. Addeh Emakhu Isibor (APC – Esan North-East I) and Hon. Lecky Hussein Mustapha (APC – Etsako West I) taking on the roles of Deputy Majority Leader and Chief Whip, respectively.
In response to the change, the PDP is expected to present its own nominations for principal officer roles within the House.
Agbebaku also clarified that the current leadership of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker remains unaffected by the reshuffling.
