The Benue State House of Assembly has suspended its immediate past Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, for three months over allegations of plotting to impeach Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The decision was taken during plenary on Tuesday in Makurdi, the state capital, following a motion moved by Terna Shimawua, the lawmaker representing Kyan State Constituency. The motion was seconded by James Umoru from Apa State Constituency.
Dajoh, who recently resigned as Speaker on Friday last week, was accused of planning to unseat the governor through an impeachment move, though full details of the plot were not disclosed during the session.
Shimawua, who moved the motion for Dajoh’s suspension, had himself been suspended earlier this month by Dajoh when he was still Speaker. Tuesday’s development appears to be a reversal of roles, as Dajoh now finds himself on the receiving end of disciplinary action.
Presiding over the plenary was the new Speaker, Alfred Berger, who ruled in favour of the motion and suspended Dajoh for three months. Interestingly, Berger reduced the initial suspension period from six months to three months, but no vote was taken on the floor of the House before the ruling — a break from standard procedure.
The Speaker said the suspension was necessary to maintain order in the Assembly and to prevent any further disruptions to its activities.
“The Assembly will not tolerate actions that threaten the stability of government and our responsibilities to the people of Benue State,” Speaker Berger stated.
Dajoh, who represents the Gboko West Constituency, had served as Speaker of the House until his sudden resignation last Friday. Though he cited “personal reasons” in his resignation letter, there have been strong speculations that internal political battles within the House and tensions with the state executive arm played a key role in his decision to step down.
Sources close to the Assembly say the alleged impeachment plot against Governor Alia may have contributed to Dajoh’s resignation and subsequent suspension. The state’s political atmosphere has been tense in recent weeks, with reports of division among lawmakers and increasing pressure from party stakeholders.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, who assumed office in May 2023 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has had a rocky relationship with some members of the House, especially regarding appointments and the direction of his administration. However, no official comment has been made from the governor’s office regarding the suspension of the former Speaker.
Meanwhile, in another development at the Tuesday sitting, the House reversed its earlier decision and confirmed the nomination of Timothy Yangien Ornguga as a commissioner in the Benue State Executive Council.
Ornguga, a respected law lecturer at Benue State University, Makurdi, was previously rejected by the House under the leadership of Dajoh. His rejection at the time had stirred controversy, with many questioning the reasons behind it.
Now, under the new leadership of Speaker Alfred Berger, the Assembly has given its approval, clearing the way for Ornguga to be sworn in as commissioner.
The Benue Assembly’s recent actions highlight growing political tensions and reshuffling of power within the state’s legislature. The impeachment allegation, though not yet fully confirmed or investigated, suggests that deeper divisions may exist between lawmakers and the state government.
