For a first-time participant, the Edo State House of Assembly is making an entrance that cannot be ignored. At the forthcoming Papyrus Magazine State Houses of Assembly Awards (PAMSHAA) 2025, billed for Saturday, August 30, 2025, at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Edo lawmakers have broken into the national spotlight with an impressive list of recognitions.
What makes this entry remarkable is not just the number of awards, but the spread—cutting across leadership, committee performance, and grassroots engagement. It signals a new chapter for Edo Assembly as a house that is not only vibrant but also nationally acknowledged for service-driven lawmaking.
Leading the honours is Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, Speaker of the House, who walks away with two high-profile awards: “The Masses’ Most Loved House Member”—a grassroots endorsement by the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Edo branch—and “Best Performing Speaker in Constituency Projects/Outreach in the South-South.” For a debut outing, his double win sets the tone for a state Assembly already carving its own legacy.
The Assembly’s bench strength also stands tall. Hon. Osamwonyi Kaycee (Uhunmwode) and Hon. Kingsley Ugabi (Etsako East) are celebrated for sponsoring impactful motions that have shaped legislative debate. Hon. Lecky Hussein Mustapha, Chief Whip, earns recognition as “Performing Member with Private Member Bills”—a rare achievement for a first-time house entry.
On the leadership front, Hon. Charity Iguodala (Minority Leader) is being honoured as “Best Performing Member in Constituency Outreach”, while Hon. Jonathan Ibhamawu (Majority Leader) takes “Most Vocal Member on the Floor of the House.”
Institutional performance is also in the spotlight. The House Standing Committee on Rules, Business, and Government has been voted “Most Effective/Productive Committee,” and 
(Akoko-Edo I), Chairman of the Committee on Education, takes the award for “Most Effective/Productive Committee Chairman.”
For PAMSHAA, which prides itself on promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen-driven leadership, Edo’s strong showing as a first-time participant reinforces the awards’ mission: inspiring healthy competition among state assemblies and setting new benchmarks for performance.
As the 3rd edition of PAMSHAA approaches, one thing is clear—Edo did not come to test the waters. It came to make a statement.
