The immediate past Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Maria Edeko, who represents Esan North-East II constituency, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.
Hon. Edeko served as Deputy Speaker during the period when the House was dominated by the PDP, towards the end of the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki and at the beginning of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s tenure.
Her defection was announced by the Speaker of the House, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, during the plenary session held on Monday, December 22, 2025.
Following her exit from the PDP, the APC now controls 22 seats in the House, while the PDP is left with only two lawmakers.
The remaining PDP members are Hon. Charity Ighodala, the Minority Leader representing Ovia North-East II constituency, and Hon. Natasha Irobosa Osawaru, who represents Egor constituency.
While announcing the defection, Speaker Agbebaku said Hon. Edeko formally joined the APC in her ward in Esan North-East Local Government Area over the weekend.
Welcoming his former deputy to the ruling party, Agbebaku said her decision would enable her constituents to benefit more from democratic dividends.
It would be recalled that on December 15, 2025, while announcing the defection of Hon. Frank Omosigo of Oredo East constituency to the APC, the Speaker warned opposition lawmakers about the challenges of attracting development projects to their areas.
He stressed that lawmakers should place the interests of their constituents above personal considerations.
According to him, one of our colleagues just joined the moving train.
The honourable member representing Oredo East. He has finally joined the All Progressive Congress. This increases the number of APCs in the house to 21.
“So let me congratulate him. But let me say that it is very dangerous for a member of the House to be in opposition. It has been so.
“If you find yourself in opposition, taking a development to your area will be very difficult. It is not about you. It is about your people. That is the truth,” he said.
