Pandamonium in Edo Assembly as members disagree over PDP nominee for Minority Whip

Pandamonium erupted on Wednesday at the plenary sitting of the Edo State House of Assembly as members disagreed over the nomination of a minority whip by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

DAILY POST reports that the Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku, had at the plenary sitting read a letter from the state leadership of PDP, nominating Ojie Eugene Inegbeboh, who represents Igueben constituency, for the position of minority whip.

The nomination of the Ojie Inegbeboh as the minority whip of the House was in response to the defection of Yekini Idaiye, Akoko-Edo I, to the APC last week.

Recall that the Speaker had on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at plenary advised PDP to send a list of a nominee to replace the hitherto minority leader, Yekini Idaiye.

The Speaker, at the plenary read a letter signed by the state caretaker committee chairman of PDP, Dr Anthony Aziegbemi, nominating, Ojie Inegbeboh for the position of the Minority Whip.

According to the speaker, the defection of some members from PDP to APC last week created a vacuum for the position of Minority Whip to be filled by the DP.

“A letter has just been received from the PDP, dated May 13, 2025 and addressed to the Speaker, Rt Hon Blessing Agbebaku, titled, Re:Nomination for Principal Officer.

“In the above subject matter after due consultations, Ojie Eugene Inegbeboh, representing Igueben has been nominated to fill the position of the Minority Whip”, he said.

The nomination of Hon Ojie Eugene Inegbeboh for the position, however, caused rowdiness as some members raised their hands to make contributions, but the Speaker, however, overuled them.

Trouble, however, started when the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Hon Addeh Isibor Emakhu, representing Esan North I, told the House that Dr Anthony Aziegbemi is not the authentic caretaker committee chairman of PDP in the State.

“I just want to say that this house as a law making body cannot by any stretch of the imagination seem to be doing anything contrary to the subsisting orders of the court.

“There is no doubt whatsoever, Mr Speaker, confirmed by the court as at today that the South-South zonal Vice Chairman of PDP is Dan Orbih

“Mr Speaker, the problem we are going to have here is this, though I am hearing the opposition members saying that i am not a member of their party. That is a statement of fact, and i agreed.

“However, anybody who is nominated as a principal officer of this House will preside over both the PDP and APC, therefore, I have a vested interest in ensuring that legality is followed because I will not be presided over by the illegitimate officer.

“Mr Speaker, the position as at today is that Dr Anthony Aziegbemi is not the caretaker committee chairman of PDP in Edo state. Therefore, Dr Aziegbemi cannot bring to this House a list of anyone to be a presiding officer.

“It is clear that there is division in the opposition party because we know they are divided but they cannot come and divide us here. So, there is an authentic and original Edo State chairman of PDP, and it is not Dr Anthony Aziegbemi.

“That letter is incompetent. Anybody bringing the name must have a legal right and not those with illegal right”,he stated.

The comment by the Deputy Majority Leader resulted in rowdiness as some members of PDP, stood up to condemn the statement.

The minority leader of the House, Charity Airobarueghian Ighodalo, representing Ovia North-East I, alleged that the Deputy Majority Leader was feeding the members with misinformation.

“Mr Speaker, you heard lawmaker dishing out misinformation. Sir, we are not playing here. Misinformation is an offence”, added.

He, however, took the Speaker of the House several minutes to be able to calm down the nerves of the lawmakers.

He threatened to adjourn the day’s plenary if the rowdiness continues.

“Did you want to decide who is who in PDP? We are both in APC and it is the PDP business. Anyone that is aggrieved with the nomination should go to court.

“This matter has been laid to rest and the list has been read. We are one here, and no party in the House. I have no business with the affairs of PDP because I am in an APC.

“If the other faction of PDP is asked to bring a list who will they bring? Is it Natasha Osawaru Irobosa or Frank Omosigho

“I will adjourn sitting now. This is indiscipline in the Hallow chamber. Please respect this gavel,” he pleaded.