Government of Edo State
The government of Edo State serves as the governing authority for Edo State, one of the 36 states within the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It comprises three branches of government: the executive branch led by the Governor of Edo State, the legislative branch represented by the Edo State House of Assembly, and the judicial branch, including the Judiciary of Edo State and the Courts of Edo State. The state government operates under the frameworks of the Constitution of Nigeria and the Constitution of Edo State, delineating the powers, duties, and functions of state organs and institutions. It also encourages direct participation from the electorate through mechanisms such as initiative, referendum, and ratification.
Established on 27 August 1991, Edo State was carved out of the former Bendel State, itself formed in 1976 through the amalgamation of the former Mid-Western Region and the former Western Region. The state's capital and largest city is Benin City, historically significant as the seat of the ancient Benin Empire. Geographically situated in the South South geopolitical zone, Edo State shares borders with Kogi State to the northeast, Anambra State to the east, Delta State to the southeast and south, and Ondo State to the west. Covering an area of, the state had a population of 4.8 million as of 2022. Edo State boasts ethnic diversity, with the Edo people forming the largest group, followed by the Esan people, the Owan people, the Etsako people, and other smaller groups. The primary language is Edo language, with English serving as the official language. Major religions include Christianity, followed by Islam and traditional religions.
Referred to as the "Heartbeat of the Nation," Edo State earns this title due to its strategic location, cultural heritage, and economic potential. The state is a producer of commodities such as rubber, palm oil, cocoa, cassava, yam, plantain, banana, maize, rice, and groundnut. It is also endowed with mineral resources, including petroleum, natural gas, limestone, granite, clay, and gold. Edo State features several tourist attractions, including the Benin City National Museum, the Oba's Palace, the Okomu National Park, the Ososo Tourist Centre, and the Somorika Hills. The state is renowned for its arts and culture, with highlights such as the Benin bronze sculptures, the Igue festival, the Edo masquerade festival, and the Esan dance.
Executive branch
The executive branch, headed by the Governor of Edo State, operates on the premise of popular election, with the governor serving a four-year term, renewable for a maximum of two terms. The governor assumes the roles of chief executive officer and chief accounting officer of the state, responsible for formulating and implementing state policies, presenting the state budget, making appointments, ensuring public order and security, and coordinating state relations. The governor also holds powers to assent to or veto bills, grant pardons, declare a state of emergency, and issue executive orders and proclamations.Assisting the governor is the Deputy Governor of Edo State, elected on the same ticket, who performs functions assigned by the governor and acts as governor in the latter's absence, death, resignation, impeachment, or permanent incapacity. Godwin Obaseki served as the governor, affiliated with the People's Democratic Party, with Philip Shaibu as the deputy governor, from 2016 to 2024. Shaibu who was later replaced by Omobayo Godwins in April 2024 after he was impeached in April 2024. As of the latest elections in 2024, Monday Okpebholo serves as the governor, affiliated with the All Progressives Congress, with Dennis Idahosa as the deputy governor.
The governor is also supported by the Edo State Executive Council, which is the highest policy-making organ of the state. The executive council consists of the governor, the deputy governor, and the commissioners appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state legislature. The commissioners head the various ministries of the state and are responsible for the administration and management of the state affairs in their respective portfolios. The executive council also includes the Secretary to the State Government, who is the principal administrative officer of the state; the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Edo State, who is the principal political adviser to the governor and the coordinator of the governor's office; and the Head of Service of Edo State, who is the chief executive and administrative officer of the state civil service. The executive council also has other members, such as the Attorney General of Edo State, who is the chief law officer of the state and the head of the Edo State Ministry of Justice; the Auditor-General of Edo State, who is the chief accounting officer of the state and the head of the Edo State Audit Service Commission; and the Accountant-General of Edo State, who is the chief financial officer of the state and the head of the Edo State Treasury.
The executive branch also includes several agencies, boards, parastatals, and corporations that are established by law or by executive order to perform specific functions or provide specific services for the state. Some of these agencies are the Edo State Internal Revenue Service, which is responsible for the assessment and collection of the state taxes and revenues; the Edo State Waste Management Board, which is responsible for the management and disposal of the state solid and liquid wastes; the Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission, which is responsible for the development and empowerment of the state communities affected by oil and gas exploration and exploitation; the Edo State Geographic Information Service, which is responsible for the management and administration of the state land and property; the Edo State Investment Promotion Office, which is responsible for the promotion and facilitation of the state investment opportunities and potentials; and the Edo State Information Communication Technology Agency, which is responsible for the development and implementation of the state information and communication technology policies and programs.
Legislative branch
The legislative branch of the state government is the Edo State House of Assembly, which is the unicameral legislature of the state. The house of assembly consists of 24 members, who are elected by popular vote from 24 constituencies of the state for a four-year term and can serve a maximum of three terms. The house of assembly is the law-making organ of the state and has the power to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the state; to approve the state budget and oversee the state expenditure; to confirm the governor's appointments to confirm the governor's appointments and remove them for misconduct; to impeach the governor or the deputy governor for gross misconduct; and to exercise oversight functions on the executive and judicial branches. The house of assembly also has the power to initiate, conduct, or request inquiries or investigations on any matter of public interest; to summon any person to appear before it or its committees to give evidence or produce documents; and to make resolutions or recommendations on any matter of public interest.The house of assembly is presided over by the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, who is elected by the members from among themselves and is the principal officer and spokesperson of the house. The speaker is assisted by the Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, who is also elected by the members from among themselves and acts as the speaker in the event of the speaker's absence, death, resignation, impeachment, or permanent incapacity. The speaker and the deputy speaker are also members of the Edo State House of Assembly Leadership, which is the governing body of the house and consists of other principal officers, such as the Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly, the Minority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly, the Chief Whip of the Edo State House of Assembly, and the Clerk of the Edo State House of Assembly. The leadership is responsible for the administration and management of the house affairs, such as the allocation of seats, offices, and facilities; the appointment and supervision of the house staff; the preparation and approval of the house budget; and the regulation and enforcement of the house rules and procedures.
The house of assembly also has several committees, which are sub-groups of the house members that are established by the house resolution or by the speaker's directive to perform specific functions or handle specific matters for the house. The committees are classified into two types: the standing committees, which are permanent and deal with the general subjects or issues of the house, such as the Public Accounts Committee of the Edo State House of Assembly, the Appropriation Committee of the Edo State House of Assembly, and the Rules and Business Committee of the Edo State House of Assembly; and the ad hoc committees, which are temporary and deal with the specific subjects or issues of the house, such as the Committee of the Whole House of the Edo State House of Assembly, the Select Committee of the Edo State House of Assembly, and the Conference Committee of the Edo State House of Assembly. The committees are headed by the Chairperson of the Edo State House of Assembly Committee, who is appointed by the speaker or elected by the committee members from among themselves and is responsible for the coordination and supervision of the committee activities, such as the conduct of hearings, investigations, or deliberations; the preparation and presentation of reports or bills; and the liaison with the other branches or organs of the state government.
The current speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly is Blessing Agbebaku, who was elected in 2023 and represents the Owan West constituency on the platform of the PDP. The current deputy speaker is Maria Edeko, who was also elected in 2023 and represents the Esan North-East II constituency on the platform of the PDP.