Edo Assembly Resumes, Receives Governor’s Nominees, Clears Adjoto, Considers Customary Court Bill

After two weeks of recess to allow completion of pending committee assignments, the Edo State House of Assembly on Monday reconvened plenary with a busy agenda that blended executive correspondences, legislative debates, and committee reports.

On resumption, the Clerk of the House, Alhaji Yahaya Audu Omogbai, read two letters from Governor Monday Okpebholo. In the correspondences, the Governor sought the screening and confirmation of eight commissioner-nominees. Those nominated are: Barr. Nosa Adams, Yakubu Musa, Dr. Felix Akhabue, Engr. Omorodion Ikponwosa, Ohimai Ehigimetor, Eugenia Abdallah, Godwin Eshieshi, and Kassim Afegbua.

Following the reading, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chief Blessing Sheriff Agbebaku, referred the requests to the House Committee on Rules, Business and Government House for further legislative action.

At plenary, the Speaker also congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC) for its victories in the weekend by-elections, which saw Hon. Joe Ikpea emerge Senator-elect and Hon. Omosede Igbinedion elected as Member of the House of Representatives. Agbebaku commended voters across the seven local government areas where elections were held, stressing that their choice reflected confidence in the APC’s leadership.

The Speaker further announced the constitution of an ad hoc committee to monitor ongoing projects across the state as part of the Assembly’s oversight responsibilities. The committee, chaired by Hon. Adeh Isibor Emakhu (Esan North-East I), also includes Hon. Jonathan Ibhamawu (Esan West), Rt. Hon. Osamwoyi Atu (Orhionmwon I), Hon. Richard Edosa Osaro (Oredo West), Hon. Bright Iyamu (Orhionmwon II), Hon. Kingsley Ugabi (Etsako East), and Rt. Hon. Yekini Idaiye (Akoko-Edo I). The committee is expected to report back to the House in due course.

In other proceedings, the Assembly confirmed the nomination of Rt. Hon. Kabiru Adjoto as Chairman of the Edo State Local Government Service Commission. A former Speaker of the House, Adjoto was asked to “take a bow” in recognition of his legislative experience.

Lawmakers also considered, at second reading, a Bill seeking to repeal the Edo State Customary Court of Appeal Law of 2015 and re-establish the Customary Court of Appeal. Leading the debate, Majority Leader Hon. Jonathan Ibhamawu argued that the legislation would strengthen the justice system, particularly at the grassroots, by ensuring effective resolution of communal and customary disputes.

Supporting the Bill, Minority Leader Hon. Charity Aiguobarueghian, former Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Marie Edeko, Deputy Governor Majority Leader Hon. Adeh Isibor, and Hon. Eugene Inegbeboh, all agreed the proposed law was timely and necessary for enhancing justice delivery and sustaining the judiciary at the customary level.

The Speaker thereafter committed the Bill to the Committee on Judiciary for further fine-tuning.

The House adjourned sitting to Tuesday, August 19, 2025, following a motion moved by Rt. Hon. Yekini Idaiye (Akoko-Edo I) and seconded by Hon. Nicholas Asonsere (Ikpoba-Okha).