By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The All Progressives Congress in Edo State took control of the Edo State House of Assembly on Monday, appointing Jonathan Aigbokhan (APC–Esan West) as the new Majority Leader.
During Monday’s plenary session, the Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku, read a letter from the APC leadership announcing the appointments of new principal officers.
According to the letter, Aigbokhan was named Majority Leader, Addeh Isibor as Deputy Majority Leader, and Mustapha Lucky as Chief Whip.
The APC had previously informed the Assembly of its new majority status, signaling that leadership changes would follow in due course.
The party now holds 13 seats after four lawmakers defected from the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party, reducing the PDP’s seats to 11.
The position of Deputy Chief Whip, previously held by Richard Edosa (APC-Oredo West), was eliminated, as the House does not officially recognise such a role.
Edosa, the former sole Labour Party lawmaker, recently defected to the APC.
Following the announcement of the new leadership, Speaker Agbebaku stated that the PDP would also submit its list of principal officers.
He emphasised that the difference between majority and minority status should not hinder the House’s collective responsibility to the people of Edo State.
“What matters is that we all work together to ensure the success of Governor Monday Okpebholo,” Agbebaku said.
In a related development, Edo State APC Chairman Jarret Tenebe issued an ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission, demanding the immediate conduct of by-elections for two vacant federal legislative seats belonging to Edo State.
In a statement issued in Benin on Monday, Tenebe expressed frustration over what he described as an unjustifiable delay in filling the vacant seats.
He noted that the affected constituencies had been without representation for over three months, which he argued violated democratic principles and electoral guidelines.
The vacancies were created following the resignation of Monday Okpebholo from the Edo Central Senatorial seat to run for governor, a race he won, and the departure of Dennis Idahosa from his position as the representative of Ovia North East/South West Federal Constituency, who became the deputy governor.
“The people of Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia North East/South West Federal Constituency have been without proper representation for three months now,” Tenebe stated. “This is against the spirit and letter of our constitution and democratic norms.”
He urged INEC to act promptly and, if financially unable to conduct the by-elections, to transfer the responsibility to the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission.
“If INEC is financially incapacitated or lacks the will to conduct these elections, then it should cede the responsibility to the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission,” Tenebe said. “The people cannot continue to be denied their right to representation.”
The APC chairman stressed that the continued delay not only disenfranchised constituents but also undermined the integrity of the democratic process.
“This inaction sends the wrong message. It undermines the very essence of democracy, which thrives on representation and participation,” he added.