The Benue state House of Assembly Thursday dissolved its leadership, retaining only the Speaker, Mr. Alfred Emberga, and the deputy, Lamin Danladi.
The decision was made during a plenary session on Thursday in Makurdi, following a motion moved by the former deputy majority leader, Mr. Douglas Akya.
Akya cited moral grounds for dissolving the leadership, stating that since he was from the same local government area as the Speaker, it would be morally wrong for him to continue serving as the deputy majority leader.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Cyril Ikong (APC/Oju), who described it as apt and timely.
The speaker put the matter to a vote, and members unanimously agreed to dissolve the appointed officers.
New officers were subsequently appointed, including Pharm. Thomas Dugeri (APC/Kwande West) as the majority leader, Dr Abraham Jabi (APC/Buruku) as the deputy majority leader, Mr Cyril Ikong (APC/Oju) as majority chief whip and Mr Simon Gabo (APC/Mata) as the deputy chief whip.
Others were Mr Abu Umoru (PDP/Apa) as the minority leader, Mr Cephas Dyako (LP/Konshisha) as the leputy minority leader, while Mr Samuel Jiji (PDP/Logo) as the minority chip whip and Mr Moses Egbodo (PDP/Obi) as deputy minority whip.
The House also made other significant decisions, including amending the name of the state university, Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, to Father Adasu University, Makurdi.
The amendment was made following a debate on the report of the House Standing Committee on Higher Education.
Additionally, the House passed bills to amend the Colleges of Education, Katsina-Ala and Oju law, to allow them to award degrees.
The Speaker, Mr. Alfred Emberga, who presided over the sitting, called on the Clerk of the House, Dr. Bem Mela, to read the bills for the third time.
Emberga thereafter, said that having been read for the third time, they were passed.