Reported Simon Daniel Yusuph l journalist at wengglobal
BENIN CITY, Edo State — Natasha Osawaru, the Edo State House of Assembly member representing Egor Constituency and wife of Nigerian music star Innocent “2Baba” Idibia, has been nominated to become the new Minority Leader of the Assembly following a major realignment of political forces in the chamber.
The development followed the defection of three lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), positioning the relatively new party as the principal opposition bloc in the Edo legislature.
However, the change in minority leadership was not immediately formalised by the Assembly, as lawmakers raised questions over whether the procedure used to communicate the defections and proposed leadership changes complied with parliamentary rules.
The development was reported by several major Nigerian media organisations, including Channels Television, The Punch, The Nation, The Guardian and New Telegraph, which all reported that the NDC had nominated Osawaru as Minority Leader after gaining minority status in the House. (Channels TV)
NDC reshapes Edo Assembly’s opposition structure
The political realignment began with the movement of three lawmakers into the NDC.
The lawmakers are Natasha Osawaru of Egor Constituency, Charity Aiguobarueghian of Ovia North-East I Constituency and Omosigho Uyi Frank of Oredo East Constituency.
Osawaru and Aiguobarueghian defected from the PDP, while Frank moved from the APC.
The defections gave the NDC sufficient representation to emerge as the main opposition party in the Edo State House of Assembly, according to reports by The Nation, The Guardian and other major outlets. (The Nation)
Following the development, NDC Edo State Chairman Babatunde Olukoga wrote to the Assembly Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, requesting recognition of the lawmakers under their new political platform.
The letter also nominated Osawaru as Minority Leader and Frank as Minority Whip.
The proposal effectively seeks to place Osawaru at the centre of the NDC’s legislative leadership in the chamber, giving her responsibility for coordinating the opposition’s activities and representing the minority caucus in legislative proceedings.
But the proposed leadership change immediately encountered a procedural hurdle.
Assembly questions due process
During plenary, the Assembly’s Majority Leader, Jonathan Ibhamawu, reportedly challenged the NDC’s request on the grounds that the lawmakers had not first formally announced their defections on the floor of the House.
He argued that the party’s notification to the Assembly should follow the lawmakers’ formal declarations of their new political affiliations.
Speaker Blessing Agbebaku consequently stepped down the NDC’s request rather than immediately recognising the proposed leadership changes. The Speaker, however, indicated that the matter could be considered once the appropriate parliamentary procedure had been followed. (Channels TV)
This distinction is important in reporting the development: while Osawaru was nominated for the position of Minority Leader, available reports do not establish that the Edo Assembly had formally installed her in the position at the time of the reports.
Wengglobal therefore understands the development as a proposed leadership change pending the completion of the Assembly’s required procedures, rather than an uncontested assumption of office.
From PDP lawmaker to NDC opposition figure
Osawaru’s political trajectory has become increasingly prominent within Edo State politics.
She represents Egor Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly and has previously occupied a leadership position within the chamber.
In April 2025, she was removed from her position as Minority Leader during an earlier restructuring of the Assembly following defections by PDP lawmakers to the APC. Reports at the time said the movement of four PDP lawmakers to the APC altered the balance of power in the House. (TheCable Lifestyle)
The subsequent political realignment has now created a different situation.
Rather than returning to her former position under the PDP, Osawaru has moved into the NDC alongside other lawmakers and has been nominated to lead the new opposition bloc.
Her latest political move also reflects the broader fluidity of party affiliations among Nigerian politicians ahead of the 2027 general elections, when lawmakers and political parties are expected to intensify efforts to consolidate their structures and influence.
In May 2026, Osawaru formally joined the NDC alongside other political figures, after leaving the PDP. Premium Times reported that she was seeking a second term as representative of Egor Constituency. (Premium Times Nigeria)
2Baba connection draws public attention
Osawaru’s political activities have attracted considerable public interest partly because of her marriage to music icon Innocent “2Baba” Idibia.
The relationship between the Edo lawmaker and the singer became a major subject of public discussion in 2025 after 2Baba publicly confirmed his relationship with Osawaru and expressed his intention to marry her.
Premium Times and The PUNCH were among major outlets that reported the singer’s confirmation of the relationship in February 2025. (Premium Times Nigeria)
The couple subsequently formalised their union in a private traditional wedding ceremony in July 2025, according to Channels Television. (Channels TV)
Despite the considerable public attention surrounding her personal life, Osawaru’s new political development is rooted in the changing composition of the Edo Assembly and the emergence of the NDC as a significant opposition platform.
The distinction between her public profile and her legislative responsibilities remains important, particularly as the House prepares to deal with political, economic and governance issues affecting Edo residents.
Implications for Edo politics
The emergence of the NDC as the principal opposition party could have implications for legislative dynamics in Edo State.
A recognised minority leadership provides the opposition with an institutional voice within the Assembly. The Minority Leader is expected to coordinate opposition lawmakers, articulate alternative positions on government policies and participate in legislative debates on behalf of the minority caucus.
For the NDC, securing the position would also provide an opportunity to establish itself as a credible political force in the state ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party’s emergence follows a period of significant political movement within the Edo Assembly, demonstrating how defections can rapidly alter the balance between governing and opposition blocs.
However, the effectiveness of any new minority leadership will ultimately depend not simply on numerical strength but also on the ability of lawmakers to maintain cohesion, develop policy positions and engage constructively with the majority.
A leadership change still subject to procedure
The immediate issue facing Osawaru and the NDC is therefore procedural recognition.
The reports from June 2026 consistently indicate that the Assembly did not reject the NDC’s proposed leadership arrangement outright. Instead, the House raised concerns about the process through which the defections and proposed leadership changes were communicated.
Channels Television reported that the NDC’s letter proposed Osawaru as Minority Leader and Frank as Minority Whip, while the Assembly’s leadership was expected to consider the requests after the required procedures were satisfied. (Channels TV)
The Punch similarly reported that the Speaker set aside the party’s letter after the Majority Leader questioned whether the lawmakers had properly announced their defections on the floor. (Punch Newspapers)
The development means that the headline surrounding Osawaru’s return to minority leadership requires careful qualification.
While the NDC has nominated her for the position, the available reports indicate that formal recognition by the House remained tied to compliance with parliamentary procedure.
For Edo’s political landscape, the episode is another indication that party realignments are likely to remain a major feature of legislative politics as the 2027 elections approach.
For Osawaru, the proposed return to a leadership position would mark another significant chapter in her legislative career. If formally recognised, she would lead an opposition bloc created through a series of defections that have reshaped the political configuration of the Edo State House of Assembly.
The unfolding process will therefore be watched not only by lawmakers but also by political parties and voters seeking to understand how the latest realignment will influence legislative oversight, opposition politics and preparations for the next electoral cycle.
For now, the most accurate position is that Natasha Osawaru has been nominated by the NDC as Minority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly, but the Assembly’s formal recognition of the change was subject to due process.
That distinction remains central to an accurate and credible account of the development.
Sources
- Channels Television — Edo Assembly Confirms Commissioner Nominee, Receives Defection Letters
- The Punch — Three Edo Assembly members defect to NDC
- The Nation — NDC attains minority status in Edo Assembly
- The Guardian Nigeria — NDC emerges main opposition party in Edo Assembly
- New Telegraph — 3 Edo APC, PDP Legislators Defect to NDC
- Premium Times — 2Baba’s wife, Natasha, leaves PDP for NDC
