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The Edo State House of Assembly has elected Yekini Idiaye, the lawmaker representing Akoko Edo Constituency I, as its speaker.

Idiaye’s emergence followed the resignation of the former speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, which was formally acknowledged by the House during Monday’s plenary.

The sitting, presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Osamwonye Atu, who announced the receipt of Agbebaku’s resignation letter. Following the announcement, the member representing the Esan South East Constituency. Sunday Ojiezele nominated Idiaye for the position of Speaker. The nomination was seconded by the member representing Owan East Constituency, Eric Okaka.

The Clerk of the House subsequently administered the oath of office on Idiaye, who thereafter assumed the leadership of the House.

The House also considered a letter from the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) seeking changes in the leadership of the majority caucus.

The letter nominated Ojiezele, representing the Esan South East Constituency, as Majority Leader, while Ojie Inegbebor, representing the Igueben Constituency, was nominated as Deputy Majority Leader.

The lawmakers also approved a letter from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), nominating Natasha Osawaru as the new Minority Leader of the House.

The nomination of Osawaru had reportedly been pending before the latest leadership changes. The developments have effectively ushered in a new leadership structure in the Edo State House of Assembly, with Idiaye now presiding over the eighth Assembly.

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After the outcome of the just-concluded governorship election in Osun State, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has disclosed that it is studying the results before determining the next line of action.

Governor Ademola Adeleke, while addressing newsmen after he was declared victorious, disclosed that he is expecting his opponent, Mr Bola Oyebamiji, to call and congratulate him.

However, the APC, in a statement issued by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, said the party leadership is currently studying the results of the governorship election in each of the 332 wards across the state with a view to exploring further allowed constitutional steps within the window of opportunity.

His words, “We are not unaware of the fact that election is a process which begins at the registration of the voters through the primary election to the election proper which extends to the Tribunal, the Appeal Court and terminates at the Supreme Court.

“An election cannot be said to have been concluded without having explored all these constitutionally allowed legal opportunity to correct anomalies observed in the process of the election as enshrined in the Electoral Act 2026 as amended.

We commend the steadfastness, sagacity and loyalty of the numerous members and supporters of our party for their contributions in getting to this juncture in the political history of the state.

“We make bold to state categorically that as a progressive party which is founded on the unalloyed principle of the rule of law, fairness and justice, we shall not hesitate without further delay to explore the window allowed by the extant Electoral Act after due consultation with the team of our lawyers based on their professional advice.

The new development is a beauty of democracy with reference to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s declared governorship election results in the state which would not propel us to deviate from embracing the culture of the rule of law.”

While appealing to members of the party to remain calm and go about their businesses lawfully, he urged the police to be on alert to rescue members of the party, who have become victims of molestation by members of the ruling party.

“As a result of the foregoing, we are imploring our ever loyal members and supporters to remain cool and calm while they carry on with their businesses and refuse to respond to any provocative action or inaction from any of the members of the ruling party across the state.

“It is necessary to assure our members and supporters not to despair about the current situation and have it in mind that it is not over until it is over.

“While we are appealing to the Nigeria Police Force to come to the aid and rescue of our members and supporters who are being needlessly molested by the ruling party, we are assuring them that we won’t have any cause or reason to abandon them,” he said.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that despite the Court of Appeal’s judgment that the PDP candidate be included in the Osun State governorship elections, the party will not field any candidate in the elections.

Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, told The Nation that they filed a stay of execution and appealed the judgment.

A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal ruled on Thursday that the candidate sponsored by the Tanimu Turaki camp of the PDP be allowed to participate in the election.

Under the electoral guidelines, only party leadership recognised by the Commission and listed in its database can present candidates for an election, but the Turaki camp is not recognised by the Commission.

Oketola said the Commission was proceeding with the conduct of the Osun elections, adding that neither of the two PDP camps was presenting any candidate for the election.

National Publicity Secretary of the Wike-backed National Working Committee, Jagunda Haruna Mohammed, said they were not presenting any candidate for the elections because Gov. Ademola Adeleke, the only person who bought the party nomination form, pulled out of the party.

Oketola said, “Although the Court of Appeal delivered a judgment on Thursday directing the inclusion of the PDP on the ballot, I want to make it clear that the judgment does not affect the Commission’s operational arrangements for tomorrow’s election. The Osun State Governorship Election remains scheduled for Saturday, 15 August 2026.

“INEC has already taken the necessary legal steps by filing an appeal against the judgment, together with an application for a Stay of Execution. The Commission will continue to pursue the matter through the appropriate judicial process while maintaining its preparations for the election.

“From an operational standpoint, the situation on the ground remains clear. Neither faction of the PDP is presently fielding an active candidate in the election. Accordingly, the judgment does not affect the Commission’s existing preparations or the conduct of tomorrow’s poll.

“There is no postponement or disruption to tomorrow’s election. The Commission’s logistical arrangements across Osun State are in place, and the necessary security arrangements have been made. Voting will commence at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow as scheduled.”