The Benue State House of Assembly on Tuesday suspended its immediate past Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, over an alleged plot to impeach Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The decision followed a motion raised by Terna Shimawua, representing Kyan State Constituency, during plenary. Shimawua was among the lawmakers suspended last week by Dajoh when he still held sway as Speaker.
Ruling on the motion, the new Speaker, Alfred Berger, who represents Makurdi North, reduced Dajoh’s suspension from the six months initially proposed to three months.
The Assembly also confirmed the appointment of Timothy Yangien Ornguga as Commissioner, a nomination earlier rejected by Dajoh before his resignation.
In the same sitting, lawmakers lifted the suspension imposed by Governor Alia on three political office holders — Grace Adagba, Chairperson of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board; Maxwell Ogiri, Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area; and Michael Uper, Secretary of the State Lottery Board.
Dajoh had resigned his position as Speaker on Sunday, barely two days after he suspended four lawmakers accused of plotting his impeachment.
His resignation paved the way for Berger’s election as Speaker during an emergency sitting presided over by Deputy Speaker Lami Danladi.
Berger, interestingly, was among the lawmakers suspended by Dajoh before the latter bowed to pressure.
The latest development marks another twist in the protracted leadership crisis rocking the Benue State House of Assembly.
The Assembly had earlier in February suspended 13 lawmakers for allegedly working against the removal of the State Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, who was accused of gross misconduct and corruption.
Although the lawmakers initially voted in favour of Ikpambese’s removal, they later disowned the resolution, claiming it violated due process.
Some of the suspended lawmakers were recalled in July, but the lingering power tussle has continued to destabilise legislative activities in the state.
With Tuesday’s suspension of Dajoh, observers say the battle for supremacy within the Assembly is far from over, even as questions remain over the stability of Governor Alia’s administration.
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