Natasha Osawaru Emerges Edo Assembly Minority Leader as Yekini Idiaye Becomes Speaker
ISSN: 2354-4481
By Lucius Grace Binua
BENIN CITY, EDO STATE — AUGUST 17, 2026
Hon. Natasha Osawaru, representing Egor Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, has emerged as the new Minority Leader of the legislature following a reshuffling of key leadership positions.
Her emergence was announced during Monday’s plenary session, shortly after the resignation of the former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, and the election of Hon. Yekini Idiaye, representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, as the new Speaker.
The leadership changes marked a significant development in the composition of the 24-member Edo State House of Assembly. Idiaye, a third-term lawmaker, took over the speakership after Agbebaku formally resigned from office. Multiple reports confirmed the development on Monday.
The Assembly also approved the nomination of Osawaru as Minority Leader following a letter from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the party under which she serves in the House.
Osawaru, who represents Egor Constituency, is expected to lead the minority caucus and participate actively in legislative debates, oversight functions and matters concerning accountability and representation.
Her elevation comes amid a broader realignment of principal positions in the Assembly following the resignation of Agbebaku.
The former Speaker, who represented Owan West Constituency, resigned from office on Monday. His resignation was formally communicated to the House during plenary, paving the way for the election of Idiaye as his successor.
Idiaye’s election was followed by further changes to the leadership structure of the House. Reports indicate that other principal officers were also nominated or appointed during the sitting.
Osawaru’s emergence as Minority Leader places her in a key position within the opposition caucus at a time of political and legislative changes in Edo State.
The Egor lawmaker had previously served in a leadership capacity in the Assembly and is expected to use her new position to contribute to legislative scrutiny and representation of minority interests.
In her remarks after the plenary, Osawaru described her new responsibility as a trust rather than simply a title. She pledged to continue representing the interests of the people of Egor and contributing to the development of Edo State.
She also reaffirmed her commitment to the progress of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and to constructive participation in the affairs of the legislature.
The changes in the Assembly come against the backdrop of the resignation of Agbebaku, who stepped down amid reported moves by lawmakers to remove him from office. Agbebaku subsequently attributed his decision to personal reasons.
Following his election, Idiaye became the new Speaker and assumed responsibility for leading the legislative arm of the Edo State Government. Reports also quoted him as explaining the circumstances surrounding the leadership change.
The new leadership arrangement is expected to shape legislative activities in the remaining period of the current Assembly and influence relations between the legislative and executive arms of government.
With Idiaye now presiding over the House and Osawaru leading the minority caucus, attention will turn to how the new leadership manages legislative business, oversight responsibilities and political differences within the Assembly.
The developments have further placed the Edo State House of Assembly at the centre of political attention, with stakeholders watching closely to see how the new leadership structure affects governance and legislative representation across the state.
The Edo State House of Assembly is the legislative arm of Edo State and has 24 members representing constituencies across the state. The current political realignment followed the resignation of Speaker Blessing Agbebaku on August 17, 2026. Yekini Idiaye, representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, was subsequently elected Speaker.
The latest changes also included the nomination of Natasha Osawaru as Minority Leader, alongside adjustments to other principal offices of the House.
