By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Edo Speaker Blessing Agbebaku (Owan West constituency) and Deputy Maria Edeko (Esan Northeast II) on Monday survived the leadership change in the Assembly.
The Speaker and Deputy are of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is now in the majority.
The representative of Egor constituency in the Assembly, Natasha Osawaru, a lawyer, also of PDP, who is the fiancée of a popular musician, Innocent Idibia, aka Tuface however lost her Deputy Majority Leader’s seat.
Osawaru was replaced with Addeh Isibor (Esan Northeast I) while Mustapha Lecky (Etsako West 1) emerged the Chief Whip.
The Majority Leader of the Assembly, Charity Aiguobarueghian (Ovia Northeast 1) of PDP, lost his seat to Jonathan Aigbokhan (Esan West) after the March 2025 defection of four lawmakers elected on the platform of PDP to APC.
The defection of the four Edo legislators: Donald Okugbe (Akoko Edo II), Bright Iyamu (Orhionmwon II), Richard Edosa (Oredo West), and Sunday Ojezele (Esan Southeast) increased APC’s seats to 13 while reducing the seats of PDP to 11..
After the defection of the four PDP lawmakers, Edo APC Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, stated that the governing party would effect changes in the leadership of the Assembly.
During Monday’s plenary, the Speaker read Edo APC’s letter that nominated the new principal officers and disclosed that the PDP would soon submit its list of principal officers.
Agbebaku stated that the distinction between majority and minority should not distract from the House’s collective responsibility to serve Edo.
Edo speaker said: “What matters is that we (24 state’s lawmakers) all work together to ensure the success of Governor Monday Okpebholo.”