The Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Maria Oligbi-Edeko, has resigned from her position.
She made this known during a plenary session held on Monday in Benin City, the state capital.
Her decision came after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which she belongs to, lost its grip on the House following a wave of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Among those who left the PDP was the Speaker himself, leaving the party in the minority.
Oligbi-Edeko, who represents Esan North-East II Constituency, had been elected Deputy Speaker in June 2023.
In her letter to the House, she explained that stepping down was necessary to ensure fairness among the different constituencies.
She thanked her party for the opportunity to serve and pledged her continued support for her constituents.
Following her resignation, members of the House elected Osamwonyi Atu, an APC lawmaker representing Orhionmwon East, as the new Deputy Speaker.
The vote in his favour was unanimous.
After the announcement, the Majority Leader, Jonathan Aigbokhan, put forward a motion to ensure that all benefits due to Oligbi-Edeko’s former office be given to her.
This was supported by the Minority Leader, Charity Airobarueghian, and the House members agreed through a voice vote.
