In a major leadership shake-up, the Edo State House of Assembly has removed Hon. Natasha Osawaru Irobosa as Minority Leader.
Osawaru, known for her relationship with popular Nigerian singer 2baba (Innocent Idibia), is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Alongside her, Hon. Charity Aiguobarueghian, who served as Majority Leader, and Hon. Yekini Idaiye, the Chief Whip, were also removed from their roles.
Despite the changes, two PDP members—Hon. Blessing Agbebaku and Hon. Maria Edeko—retained their positions as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Assembly.
The restructuring follows a letter from the acting chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarret Tenebe, to the Assembly. The APC secured majority status after four PDP lawmakers defected to their party, prompting the leadership overhaul.
Announcing the new appointments, the Speaker said Hon. Ibhamawu Jonathan Aigbokhan of the APC, representing Esan West, would now serve as Majority Leader. Hon. Addeh Emakhu Isibor, representing Esan North-East I, was named Deputy Leader, while Hon. Lecky Hussein Mustapha of Etsako West I became the new Chief Whip—all of them members of the APC.
The Speaker also said the PDP would be expected to submit a revised list of principal officers. However, he noted that even the current positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker were not guaranteed in light of the recent developments, leaving the future leadership arrangement of the House uncertain.
