Amidst lingering political crises, Benue Speaker Aondona Dajoh resigns, lawmakers pick Berger as replacement

The Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Aondona Dajoh, has resigned from his position.

 

Dajoh’s resignation was contained in a letter he personally signed, dated August 24, 2025, according to Channels Television.

 

In the letter titled ‘Resignation as the Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly,’ Dajoh said his decision was made in good faith and in the interest of the state.

 

“I write to resign my position as the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, effective today, August 24, 2025. This is done in good faith and in the best interest of the state. I want to appreciate my dear colleagues for the opportunity they gave me to be the first among equals,” the letter read in part.

 

He further pledged his continued dedication to legislative duties, stating, “I pledge to remain committed to my duties as a legislator and representative of Gboko West State Constituency.”

 

Details regarding his successor were yet to be announced at the time of filing this report.

 

In a handwritten letter dated 24th August 2025 and shared on his Facebook page, captioned “Let there be peace,” Dajoh formally announced his resignation, stating that the decision was taken “in good faith and in the best interest of the state.”

 

He thanked his colleagues for giving him the opportunity to serve as “the first among equals” and pledged to remain dedicated to his legislative duties and the representation of his constituency, Gboko West State Constituency.

 

Following his resignation, the Benue State Assembly, in an emergency plenary session, elected Alfred Berger, representing Makurdi North, setting aside his suspension along with three other lawmakers on Friday.

 

The session, which was presided over by the deputy speaker, Lami Ogenyi, first set aside its operating rules to allow them to carry on with the business of replacing the speaker.

 

Berger, who is just returning from suspension and backed by Governor Hyacinth Alia, pledged to work with Dajoh and the lawmakers to pursue the development agenda of the state.

 

The Benue State House of Assembly had last Friday suspended the lawmaker representing Makurdi North, Alfred Berger; his Kian constituency counterpart, Terna Shimawua; Cyril Ekong of Obi state constituency, and James Umoru, representing Apa state constituency, for six months.

 

This, according to the House, followed an attempt to impeach the Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, the previous night.

 

The Majority Leader, Saater Tiseer, in a motion of urgent importance, moved for the suspension of the four lawmakers for attempting to unsettle the state assembly with what he said was a needless crisis.

 

Following the motion, the Speaker directed the Sergeant at Arms to lead the suspended lawmakers out of the chambers.

 

Dajoh also appointed Audu Elias as the new spokesperson of the House, following the suspension of Berger, who had held the position.

 

However, the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, said he had no hand in any alleged move to impeach Dajoh.

 

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Tersoo Kula, partly read, “The governor, Hyacinth Alia, is not aware of and has no involvement whatsoever in any purported attempt to remove the speaker or in any activities currently taking place in the Benue State House of Assembly.

 

“The governor continues to enjoy a cordial and productive working relationship with the Dajoh-led assembly and remains committed to supporting it in the discharge of its legislative duties for the overall development of Benue State.”

 

Twenty-four hours earlier, the House of Assembly screened and confirmed six nominees as commissioners, but rejected the nomination of Timothy Ornguga over allegations contained in four petitions against him from his former students and for lacking a primary school certificate.

 

The lawmakers at plenary presided over by Dajoh, asked Governor Alia to send replacements for Ornguga and James Dwen as both men failed to discharge the burden contained in the petition submitted against their nominations.

 

After Ornguga, a law professor, introduced himself, the Majority Leader, Saater Tiseer, presented four petitions written against him, while the lawmaker representing Tarka Constituency, Manger Manger, queried his academic credentials.