By Abiola Olawale
The Benue State House of Assembly has been thrust into soaring political crisis again following a dramatic turn of events that saw the suspension of its former Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, just days after his unexpected resignation.
The political drama escalated on Tuesday, August 26, when the Assembly, now led by newly elected Speaker, Alfred Berger, suspended Dajoh for three months.
The motion, moved by Terna Shimawua, one of the lawmakers previously suspended under Dajoh’s leadership, alleged that Dajoh had plotted, and indeed attempted to orchestrate an impeachment plot against Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State.
The motion was seconded by James Umoru, another previously suspended lawmaker, and was adopted without the usual vote.
In another twist on Tuesday, the Assembly made a U-turn and confirmed the nomination of Timothy Yangien Ornguga as commissioner.
Ornguga, a law lecturer at the Benue State University, was rejected last week by Dajoh.
However, the new speaker while reading a letter from Governor Alia on Tuesday, screened five more nominees, including the law professor.
The House also lifted the suspension on three political office holders, earlier suspended by the governor. They are 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.
This comes after Dajoh, representing Gboko West State Constituency of Benue State, announced his resignation as Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly on Sunday, August 24, 2025.
In a letter posted on his Facebook page with the caption “Let there be peace,” Dajoh cited acting “in good faith and in the best interest of the state” as his reason for stepping down.
He expressed gratitude to his colleagues for the opportunity to serve as “first among equals” and pledged to continue his duties as a legislator.
The resignation came on the heels of a turbulent period within the Assembly. Just two days prior, on Friday, August 22, Dajoh had presided over the suspension of four lawmakers—Alfred Berger (Makurdi North), Terna Shimawua (Kyan), Cyril Ekong (Obi), and James Umoru (Apa)—for allegedly plotting to impeach him.
