Following the swearing into workplace of the sixth democratically elected Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia on the 29/Might 2023 at Ibrahim Babangida Babangida (IBB) Sq. Makurdi at precisely 12 midday by the Chief Choose of the state, Justice Aondover Kakaan, the tussle for management started as to who turns into the speaker of the Benue Meeting and who to emerge because the chief decide of the state because the occasion marked the final task of the then chief decide.
On the 18th March, 2023, Governorship and State Meeting election performed in Benue State, INEC returned Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh (APC), as winner of Gboko West State Constituency election.
On Monday, fifth June, 2023, the Gboko West State Constituency consultant was elected Speaker of the tenth Benue Meeting. He was returned winner after a botched second poll when the 2 candidates – Becky Orpin and Dajoh – tied at 16 votes every within the first spherical of poll.
Though a primary timer in legislative enterprise, Aondona Dajoh is the primary speaker within the historical past of recent Benue to preside over a 32-member meeting. Till this 12 months, the Home comprised 30 members, representing 30 state constituencies of the state.
The composition of the tenth Benue Meeting is such that APC has the bulk – 21 members – with PDP coming second, with ten members and Labour Get together (LP), a member.
Apparently, throughout the first poll, all of the ten PDP members and 6 APC lawmakers voted for Dajoh whereas Becky went with 15 APC members and the LP man. The second poll was stopped, whereas it was underway, as a consequence of questions on the poll papers.
Within the third, which Dajoh received 17:15, it’s both he received yet one more APC lawmaker or the LP man had a rethink.
It was nonetheless, learnt that the PDP lawmakers – ten from ten constituencies – vowed to withstand any candidate offered by the APC and provides their block vote to an alternate candidate.
Pundits have been of the view that the tenth Benue Meeting led by the Speaker, Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh was as much as its accountability of lawmaking and oversight. Since its proclamation, the meeting was clear on its mandate: Legislative enterprise that’s within the curiosity of the folks of Benue State, whose mandate they maintain, for the aim of fine governance.
This was evident in resolutions handed by the meeting, a few of which border on safety, welfare of the folks and good governance. The Dajoh-led meeting had been particularly counseled for resolutions on the account of the state which no directive was positioned on upon the approaching into workplace of the incumbent Governor, Hyacinth Alia, intervention within the Mbasombu-Mbaivur communal crises and interventions on the Constituency degree.
One different factor that was noticeable was that the meeting, in response to pundits was not a rubber stamp meeting. It was the voice and the conscience of the folks, stepping as much as the event in talking the minds of the folks to the chief. For example, it was the meeting that refused to clear one of many Governor’s nominees, Vincent Gisaor, for appointment into the state electoral physique over Gusaor’s feedback on the social media, which the meeting thought-about inappropriate. Gisaor was faulted and the meeting toed the trail of the folks when it refused to clear him for the job.
Stories in March this 12 months quoted Dajoh as distancing himself from contest for the workplace of the Speaker. Emmanuel Nyata instructed BusinessDay that his emergence is akin to disruption in “the system.”
Dajoh and his colleagues can be mainly involved with making legal guidelines and oversight, for good governance within the state.
The Speaker has been receiving applause over the way he has been carrying on as speaker. His swift intervention within the Mbaivur and Mbabur, all of Gwer East LGA crises has been counseled.
The Narrative modified instantly when the Benue State Home of Meeting declined to honour a correspondence from Governor Hyacinth Alia searching for the screening and affirmation of nominees for commissioner positions within the state govt council throughout a plenary, presided Speaker Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh lately.
This adopted a movement of pressing public significance moved by Shimapever Jiji, informing the Home that the Governor has refused to honour any decision of the home and has handled members with whole disregard.
Seconding the movement Thomas Dugeri mentioned the Governor has not addressed urgent issues beforehand raised by the Meeting, saying he has no respect for the hallowed chamber.
Members who contributed mentioned the choice was not aimed toward stalling governance however to compel the chief arm to respect legislative independence and fulfil prior commitments.
They acknowledged that they don’t seem to be towards the screening of commissioners, however that the governor should first honour agreements and respect the resolutions of the Home.
The home demanded that the Governor ought to instantly subject official automobiles to the affected distinguished members, give impact to the suspension notices issued to the SUBEB Chairman and Otukpo Native Authorities Council Chairman and Government Secretary, Benue State Sports activities Lottery and Advertising Board.
The home resolved to not honour or entertain some other correspondence from the chief arm of presidency till the governor complied with the calls for.
Hyacinth Iormem Alia, the chief governor of Benue State, upheld the resolutions of the Benue State Home of Meeting conveyed to his workplace concerning the suspension of some public officers.
A choice that was made identified via a press assertion signed by his chief press secretary, Tersoo Kulas. It detailed that, ”in step with the resolutions handed by the Home, His Excellency affirms the suspension of the Government Chairman of Otukpo Native Authorities Space, Maxwell Ogiri, for a interval of 1 month, efficient from in the present day, and the suspension of the Chairman of the State Common Fundamental Training Board (SUBEB), Grace D. Adagba, for a interval of 1 month, efficient from in the present day in addition to the fast suspension of the Government Secretary of the Benue State Lottery Fee, Michael Uper for the interval of 1 month.”
Governor Alia who upheld the meeting’s selections reiterates his unwavering dedication to the rule of legislation, due course of, and the rules of separation of powers. He counseled the Home of Meeting for exercising its constitutional obligations and assures the folks of Benue State that his administration stays devoted to transparency, accountability, and good governance.
In view of this, Aondona Hyacinth Dajoh, the Speaker of Benue State tenth Meeting resigned, following an impeachment allegedly sponsored by the Governor of Benue state, Hyacinth Alia.
The speaker’s resignation choice was made identified via a letter written by him to the clerk of the home.
Dajoh who within the letter appreciated his colleagues for granting him the nice alternatives defined that his resignation was a call to let peace reign within the legislative arm of the federal government of the state.
He mentioned, ”I write to resign my place because the speaker of the Benue State Meeting with impact from in the present day, twenty fourth August 2025. That is achieved in good impact with the curiosity of the state.”
He promised to stay dedicated to his legislative duties and represents the nice folks of Gboko successfully.
Berger Emberga Alfred, the previous deputy chief whip of the Benue State Home of Meeting who was lately suspended by the fast previous Speaker of the Benue Meeting, Aondona Dajoh was inaugurated by the clerk of the Home because the newly elected speaker of the home.
Aondona Dajoh, the erstwhile speaker of the tenth Benue State Home of Meeting was suspended for a interval of three (3) months by the newly elected speaker, Alfred Berger throughout his first plenary for alleged try and impeach the chief Governor of Benue state, Hyacinth Alia.
In a movement moved by a member representing the folks of Kyan state constituency, Emmanuel Shimawua and seconded by the member representing APA state constituency, Abu Umoru, they alleged that the previous quantity three citizen resigned his place because of a failed try and impeach the chief Governor of Benue state.
The speaker who confirmed the movement by ruling described the act as barbaric.
The brand new Speaker of the Benue State Home of Meeting additionally redeployed Clerk of the Meeting, a improvement that was met with dismay, with many questioning the motives behind the choice.
Pundits mentioned, whereas particulars surrounding the removing are scarce, the function of the Clerk is essential in sustaining order and process throughout the Meeting. The Clerk is liable for maintaining data, getting ready agendas, and guaranteeing the graceful operation of the Home.
This transfer is prone to generate debate and pressure, significantly given the significance of illustration and equity in authorities establishments. Because the state of affairs unfolds, stakeholders and residents alike can be watching intently to grasp the implications of this choice.
Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh, former Speaker of the Benue State Home of Meeting, has since denied the accusation of trying to question the chief Governor of Benue state and described it as a baseless and unfounded declare.
Dajoh mentioned that these allegations are false, deceptive, and seem designed to tarnish the status of the previous Speaker, including that he remained the best-serving Speaker within the historical past of the Meeting and has at all times maintained a cordial and constructive relationship with the Governor.
In actual fact, simply days earlier than his resignation, the Home underneath his management handed a vote of confidence within the Governor, reaffirming the Meeting’s dedication to supporting the federal government’s efforts to succeed.
A pertinent query stays: who have been the others the previous Speaker allegedly deliberate to question the governor with, and why is the previous Speaker the one one going through suspension?
Whereas the previous Speaker accepts the suspension in good religion, it have to be emphasised that this three-month suspension seems to be a mere political maneuver, orchestrated by non-state actors and executed by components throughout the tenth Meeting.
Equally, the judicial arm of Benue state suffered the identical battle allegedly sponsored by the chief arm of presidency underneath the management of Governor Hyacinth Alia with the intention of eradicating the Chief Choose of the state, Justice Ikpambese which was aborted with the intervention of Nigeria Barr Affiliation, NBA and different profound authorized luminaries.
A case that was dragged to the Supreme Court docket had the then Legal professional Common, Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Nmyim suspended by the NBA Disciplinary Committee for a interval of three (3) years.
A number of appointees have been allegedly compelled by Governor Hyacinth Alia to resigned, these embody; Secretary to the State Authorities, Professor Alakali, the chief of workers, Paul Biam, and particular adviser to the Governor on Youths, Moses Mkeneen in addition to the particular adviser to the Governor on Analysis and documentation, Aondona Mkor amongst others.
The state management of the ruling celebration, All Progressive Congress (APC), has severally been in disaster which has been termed the Secretary to the Authorities of the Federation (SGF), Senator Akume-Dajoh faction and Governor Hyacinth Alia’s faction who’ve being in court docket until date.
The ability tussle nonetheless, has been favouring the chief. Pundits argue that it’s going to all bounce again throughout electioneering in 2027 because the plenty could pay again by rejecting to vote them again.
