Following the swearing into office of the 6th democratically elected Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia on the 29/May 2023 at Ibrahim Babangida Babangida (IBB) Square Makurdi at exactly 12 noon by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Aondover Kakaan, the tussle for leadership began as to who becomes the speaker of the Benue Assembly and who to emerge as the chief judge of the state as the event marked the last assignment of the then chief judge.
At the 18th March, 2023, Governorship and State Assembly election conducted in Benue State, INEC returned Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh (APC), as winner of Gboko West State Constituency election.
On Monday, 5th June, 2023, the Gboko West State Constituency representative was elected Speaker of the 10th Benue Assembly. He was returned winner after a botched second ballot when the two candidates – Becky Orpin and Dajoh – tied at 16 votes each in the first round of ballot.
Although a first timer in legislative business, Aondona Dajoh is the first speaker in the history of modern Benue to preside over a 32-member assembly. Until this year, the House comprised 30 members, representing 30 state constituencies of the state.
The composition of the 10th Benue Assembly is such that APC has the majority – 21 members – with PDP coming second, with ten members and Labour Party (LP), a member.
Apparently, during the first ballot, all the ten PDP members and six APC lawmakers voted for Dajoh while Becky went with 15 APC members and the LP man. The second ballot was stopped, while it was underway, due to questions on the ballot papers.
In the third, which Dajoh won 17:15, it is either he won one more APC lawmaker or the LP man had a rethink.
It was however, learnt that the PDP lawmakers – ten from ten constituencies – vowed to resist any candidate presented by the APC and give their block vote to an alternative candidate.
Pundits were of the view that the 10th Benue Assembly led by the Speaker, Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh was up to its responsibility of lawmaking and oversight. Since its proclamation, the assembly was clear on its mandate: Legislative business that is in the interest of the people of Benue State, whose mandate they hold, for the purpose of good governance.
This was evident in resolutions passed by the assembly, some of which border on security, welfare of the people and good governance. The Dajoh-led assembly had been specifically commended for resolutions on the account of the state which no directive was placed on upon the coming into office of the incumbent Governor, Hyacinth Alia, intervention in the Mbasombu-Mbaivur communal crises and interventions at the Constituency level.
One other thing that was noticeable was that the assembly, according to pundits was not a rubber stamp assembly. It was the voice and the conscience of the people, stepping up to the occasion in speaking the minds of the people to the executive. For instance, it was the assembly that refused to clear one of the Governor’s nominees, Vincent Gisaor, for appointment into the state electoral body over Gusaor’s comments on the social media, which the assembly considered inappropriate. Gisaor was faulted and the assembly toed the path of the people when it refused to clear him for the job.
Reports in March this year quoted Dajoh as distancing himself from contest for the office of the Speaker. Emmanuel Nyata told BusinessDay that his emergence is akin to disruption in “the system.”
Dajoh and his colleagues will be chiefly concerned with making laws and oversight, for good governance in the state.
The Speaker has been receiving applause over the manner he has been carrying on as speaker. His swift intervention in the Mbaivur and Mbabur, all of Gwer East LGA crises has been commended.
The Narrative changed immediately when the Benue State House of Assembly declined to honour a correspondence from Governor Hyacinth Alia seeking the screening and confirmation of nominees for commissioner positions in the state executive council during a plenary, presided Speaker Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh recently.
This followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Shimapever Jiji, informing the House that the Governor has refused to honour any resolution of the house and has treated members with total disregard.
Seconding the motion Thomas Dugeri said the Governor has not addressed pressing concerns previously raised by the Assembly, saying he has no respect for the hallowed chamber.
Members who contributed said the decision was not aimed at stalling governance but to compel the executive arm to respect legislative independence and fulfil prior commitments.
They stated that they are not against the screening of commissioners, but that the governor must first honour agreements and respect the resolutions of the House.
The house demanded that the Governor should immediately issue official vehicles to the affected distinguished members, give effect to the suspension notices issued to the SUBEB Chairman and Otukpo Local Government Council Chairman and Executive Secretary, Benue State Sports Lottery and Marketing Board.
The house resolved not to honour or entertain any other correspondence from the executive arm of government until the governor complied with the demands.
Hyacinth Iormem Alia, the executive governor of Benue State, upheld the resolutions of the Benue State House of Assembly conveyed to his office regarding the suspension of some public officials.
A decision that was made known through a press statement signed by his chief press secretary, Tersoo Kulas. It detailed that, ”in line with the resolutions passed by the House, His Excellency affirms the suspension of the Executive Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, for a period of one month, effective from today, and the suspension of the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Grace D. Adagba, for a period of one month, effective from today as well as the immediate suspension of the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Lottery Commission, Michael Uper for the period of one month.”
Governor Alia who upheld the assembly’s decisions reiterates his unwavering commitment to the rule of law, due process, and the principles of separation of powers. He commended the House of Assembly for exercising its constitutional responsibilities and assures the people of Benue State that his administration remains dedicated to transparency, accountability, and good governance.
In view of this, Aondona Hyacinth Dajoh, the Speaker of Benue State 10th Assembly resigned, following an impeachment allegedly sponsored by the Governor of Benue state, Hyacinth Alia.
The speaker’s resignation decision was made known through a letter written by him to the clerk of the house.
Dajoh who in the letter appreciated his colleagues for granting him the great opportunities explained that his resignation was a decision to let peace reign in the legislative arm of the government of the state.
He said, ”I write to resign my position as the speaker of the Benue State Assembly with effect from today, 24th August 2025. This is done in good effect with the interest of the state.”
He promised to remain committed to his legislative duties and represents the good people of Gboko effectively.
Berger Emberga Alfred, the former deputy chief whip of the Benue State House of Assembly who was recently suspended by the immediate past Speaker of the Benue Assembly, Aondona Dajoh was inaugurated by the clerk of the House as the newly elected speaker of the house.
Aondona Dajoh, the erstwhile speaker of the 10th Benue State House of Assembly was suspended for a period of three (3) months by the newly elected speaker, Alfred Berger during his first plenary for alleged attempt to impeach the executive Governor of Benue state, Hyacinth Alia.
In a motion moved by a member representing the people of Kyan state constituency, Emmanuel Shimawua and seconded by the member representing APA state constituency, Abu Umoru, they alleged that the former number three citizen resigned his position as a result of a failed attempt to impeach the executive Governor of Benue state.
The speaker who confirmed the motion by ruling described the act as barbaric.
The new Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly also redeployed Clerk of the Assembly, a development that was met with dismay, with many questioning the motives behind the decision.
Pundits said, while details surrounding the removal are scarce, the role of the Clerk is crucial in maintaining order and procedure within the Assembly. The Clerk is responsible for keeping records, preparing agendas, and ensuring the smooth operation of the House.
This move is likely to generate debate and tension, particularly given the importance of representation and fairness in government institutions. As the situation unfolds, stakeholders and citizens alike will be watching closely to understand the implications of this decision.
Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh, former Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, has since denied the accusation of attempting to impeach the executive Governor of Benue state and described it as a baseless and unfounded claim.
Dajoh said that these allegations are false, misleading, and appear designed to tarnish the reputation of the former Speaker, adding that he remained the best-serving Speaker in the history of the Assembly and has always maintained a cordial and constructive relationship with the Governor.
In fact, just days before his resignation, the House under his leadership passed a vote of confidence in the Governor, reaffirming the Assembly’s commitment to supporting the government’s efforts to succeed.
A pertinent question remains: who were the others the former Speaker allegedly planned to impeach the governor with, and why is the former Speaker the only one facing suspension?
While the former Speaker accepts the suspension in good faith, it must be emphasized that this three-month suspension appears to be a mere political maneuver, orchestrated by non-state actors and executed by elements within the tenth Assembly.
Similarly, the judicial arm of Benue state suffered the same battle allegedly sponsored by the executive arm of government under the leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia with the aim of removing the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ikpambese which was aborted with the intervention of Nigeria Barr Association, NBA and other profound legal luminaries.
A case that was dragged to the Supreme Court had the then Attorney General, Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Nmyim suspended by the NBA Disciplinary Committee for a period of three (3) years.
Several appointees have been allegedly compelled by Governor Hyacinth Alia to resigned, these include; Secretary to the State Government, Professor Alakali, the chief of staff, Paul Biam, and special adviser to the Governor on Youths, Moses Mkeneen as well as the special adviser to the Governor on Research and documentation, Aondona Mkor amongst others.
The state leadership of the ruling party, All Progressive Congress (APC), has severally been in crisis which has been termed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Akume-Dajoh faction and Governor Hyacinth Alia’s faction who have being in court till date.
The power tussle however, has been favouring the executive. Pundits argue that it will all bounce back during electioneering in 2027 as the masses may pay back by rejecting to vote them back.
