The Benue State House of Assembly has suspended its former Speaker, Hon. Aondona Dajoh, for three months over his alleged attempt to impeach Governor Hyacinth Alia.

 

The decision followed a motion moved on Tuesday by Hon. Terna Shimawua, representing Kyan Constituency, and seconded by Hon. James Umoru from Apa Constituency. Interestingly, Shimawua was among the lawmakers suspended last Friday by Dajoh before the latter resigned as Speaker.

 

The current Speaker, Hon. Alfred Berger, who presided over the matter, reduced the suspension period from six months to three, without putting the motion to the usual voice vote.

 

In another dramatic twist, the Assembly reversed itself on Tuesday and confirmed the nomination of Timothy Yangien Ornguga as commissioner, barely a week after he was rejected under Dajoh’s leadership. Ornguga, a law lecturer at Benue State University, had been opposed alongside James Dwem, but Speaker Berger read a fresh letter from Governor Alia appealing for their clearance.

 

The governor argued that both nominees had not been convicted of any crime despite the petitions against them. This time, the lawmakers who previously objected raised no opposition, allowing their confirmation without the customary voting process.

 

The Assembly also lifted the suspension of three political office holders earlier sanctioned by the governor: the Chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board, Grace Adagba; the Otukpo Local Government Chairman, Maxwell Ogiri; and the Secretary of the State Lottery Board, Michael Uper.

 

With Tuesday’s developments, the Benue Assembly appears to be repositioning itself under new leadership, reversing several controversial decisions taken during Dajoh’s tenure.