The Benue State House of Assembly has dismissed speculations that the resignation of its former Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, was engineered by Governor Hyacinth Alia, insisting the move was entirely his decision.
Assembly spokesperson, Elias Audu, stated this on Monday while speaking on The Morning Brief, a Channels Television programme.
He stressed that lawmakers acted independently and that there was no coercion involved in the leadership change.
“The Speaker resigned based on personal principle. Nobody pushed him out,” Audu said.
“We are in a political dispensation, but there is no fighting in the Benue Assembly. You can’t coerce members. The immediate past Speaker voluntarily resigned, and when he did, members unanimously voted Honourable Berger Emberga as the new Speaker in a peaceful atmosphere.”
Dajoh stepped down in a letter on Sunday, saying his decision was made “in good faith and in the best interest of the state.” His resignation was followed by an emergency plenary, presided over by Deputy Speaker Lami Ogenyi, where Emberga, representing Makurdi North, was elected as his successor.
Audu emphasized that the legislature remains autonomous, adding: “We maintain the principle of separation of powers.
Recently, the governor sent nominees, and we turned them down. If we think his policies are not in the interest of the people, we will tell him. Since 2023, the House has been at peace.”
Governor Alia has also denied playing any role in the development, stressing that he maintains a cordial working relationship with the Assembly and remains focused on governance.
Meanwhile, the new Speaker, Berger Emberga—who was recently suspended along with three others over an alleged impeachment plot—pledged to foster unity within the House. “I will work with Honourable Dajoh and other members to drive Benue’s development agenda,” he said.
The Assembly has in recent weeks flexed its independence by rejecting two commissioner nominees.
Timothy Ornguga was turned down following petitions questioning his qualifications, including allegations of not possessing a primary school certificate, while James Dwen’s nomination was also rejected with a directive that the governor submit replacements.
