A motion to confer full entitlements of the Deputy Speaker’s office on the recently resigned Deputy Speaker, Maria Oligbi-Edeko, received unanimous backing on the floor of the Heartbeat of The Nation (Edo State) House of Assembly on Monday.
The motion was raised by the House Majority Leader, representing Edan West under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, Jonathan Aigbokhan and seconded by the Minority Leader, representing Ovia Northeast 1, Charity Airobarueghian.
Oligbi-Edeko, representing Esan Northeast II under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stepped down from her position, citing the need to uphold equity and fairness within the legislative arm. Her resignation follows a significant power shift in the Assembly, where the PDP, formerly the majority party, now holds just six out of 24 seats, giving rise to the All Progressives Congress (APC) currently holding the majority title with 18 members.
The former Deputy Speaker, who was elected into the role on June 16, 2023, thanked her party and constituents for the opportunity given to her to serve, stating that her decision was made in the interest of maintaining balance and fair representation in the House.
Lawmakers took turns to commend Oligbi-Edeko, highlighting her dedication to legislative duties, principled conduct, and contributions to the development of the Assembly. They described her exit from the leadership position as dignified and reflective of her character.
Following her resignation, Osamwonyi Atu, representing Orhionmwon East constituency under the APC was elected as the new Deputy Speaker, the position which further solidified the APC’s dominance in the Assembly after a wave of defections reversed the post-election configuration that had initially placed the PDP in control.
Oligbi-Edeko’s tenure was marked by active participation in legislative affairs and a reputation for promoting unity across party lines
