The Benue State House of Assembly (BSHA) on Tuesday suspended the immediate past Speaker, Hon Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh, for three months for his alleged involvement in moves to impeach the state Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia.
Dajoh was suspended barely three days after he resigned from his position as Speaker.
The House took the decision on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, during its plenary presided over by his successor, Alfred Emberga.
The House alleged that the former Speaker plotted to impeach the governor and slammed him with the suspension.
The motion “of urgent public importance” to suspend Aondona Dajoh was moved by Emmanuel Shimawua, member representing Kyan State Constituency, and was seconded by Abu Umoru James, who is representing Apa State Constituency, both of who were recalled from suspension on Sunday.
Moving the motion, Shimawua told the House that on the 21st of this month, Mr Dajoh called members to a meeting in his house and was planning to use the attendance of the meeting to impeach the Governor.
He recommended that the house suspend Mr Dajoh from legislative duty for the period of six months, arguing that if the action of the former speaker was not averted, he could have thrown the whole state into confusion.
The House re-screened and confirmed two commissioner nominees, including Prof. Timothy Yangien Ornguga and Mr. James Dwen, who were earlier rejected by the former Speaker, Dajoh-led Assembly.
It was learnt that the governor had written to the House stating that no competent court has indicted the two of any wrongdoing, and as such, they should be considered for commissioner positions.
The House also recalled the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mrs Grace Adagba, alongside the Executive Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, (LGA) Mr. Maxwell Ogiri and the Executive Secretary, State Lottery/Sporting Board, Mr. Michael Upper whose one month suspensions were also earlier approved by Governor Hyacinth Alia.
Meanwhile, the former speaker, Rt. Hon. Aondona Dajoh has denied any involvement in moves to impeach the governor.
Dajoh, in a statement signed by the Media Aide, Terver Zamber, described the claims as baseless and unfounded.
The statement read, “These allegations are false, misleading, and appear designed to tarnish the reputation of the former Speaker.
“The former Speaker has remained the best-serving Speaker in the history of the Assembly and has always maintained a cordial and constructive relationship with the Governor.
“In fact, just days before his resignation, the House under his leadership passed a vote of confidence in the Governor, reaffirming the Assembly’s commitment to supporting the Government’s efforts to succeed.
“A pertinent question remains: who were the others the former Speaker allegedly planned to impeach the governor with, and why is the former Speaker the only one facing suspension?
“It is unfortunate that Hon. Terna Shimawua, representing Kyan State Constituency, who moved the motion for the suspension of the former Speaker on the grounds of an alleged impeachment attempt, was speaking in the house for the very first time since his election to the tenth Assembly.
“While the former Speaker accepts the suspension in good faith, it must be emphasised that this three-month suspension appears to be a mere political manoeuvre, orchestrated by non-state actors and executed by elements within the tenth Assembly.
“It’s unnecessary to spread falsehoods against the former Speaker, who resigned for the sake of peace and in the best interest of the state.
“We therefore urge the public to disregard these unfounded claims and continue to support the progress of Benue State,” it added.
Credit: The Sun