Benue Assembly Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, resigns

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

Aondona Dajoh, the Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly has resigned few days after four lawmakers were suspended for allegedly plotting to remove him from office.

The Speaker announced his resignation in a handwritten letter made public on Sunday August 24, 2025.

The handwritten letter was addressed to the clerk of Benue Assembly.

The Speaker who is representing Gboko West State Constituency in the Benue House of said in the letter that he decided to resign “in good faith and in the best interest of the state.”

He added that he remained committed to his duties as a legislator and representative of Gboko West State Constituency.

Dajoh’s short letter titled ‘Resignation As The Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, read in part, “I write to resign my position as the Speaker, 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.

“I Pledge to remain committed to my duties as a legislator and representative of Gboko West State Constituency.”

Dajoh had last Friday presided over the plenary of the Assembly where four members including the Deputy Chief Whip, Mr Alfred Berger (APC/Makurdi North) were suspended for alleged attempting to cause chaos in the house by plotting to remove him as Speaker

The other suspended members were Mr Shimawua Emmanuel (APC/Tiev), Mr Cyril Ikong (APC/Oju II) and Mr Abu Umoru (PDP/Apa).

The suspension of the lawmakers followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Mr Saater Tiseer (APC/Mbagwa) who enjoined the house to suspend them for six months for attempting to cause chaos in the assembly.

The majority leader had recalled that on Wednesday, Aug. 20, the house, in the spirit of unity, passed a vote of confidence on its leadership as well as Gov. Hyacinth Alia’s administration.

Tiseer said that he was worried that barely three days after the house adopted resolutions on the matter, Berger and three others went behind to mobilise other members to cause chaos in the house.

The majority leader stated that the actions of the suspended members were inimical to the peaceful co-existence of the house and should not be tolerated.

He emphasised that the house condemned in the strongest terms the dishonourable actions of Berger and his cohorts.

Tiseer recommended that the house suspend the members for indulging in dishonourable actions capable of casting aspersions and causing acrimony in the house.

The motion was seconded by Mr Elias Audu (APC/Gwer East), saying that their actions were condemnable.

Audu further encouraged his colleagues not to allow non-state actors to use them, disclosing that the non-state actors had been intimidating the speaker and the house leadership.

Contributing, Mr Bemdoo Ipusu (APC/Katsina-Ala) said that he felt pained that a member who was a leader in the house would indulge in actions capable of jeopardising the peace and unity of the house.

The speaker, in his ruling, suspended the deputy chief whip and the three others for three months.

Dajoh further announced the dissolution of all committees and appointed Mr Elias Audu as the Chairman of the Information Committee.

He also appointed Mr Douglas Akya (APC/Makurdi South) as the new Deputy Chief Whip and Mr Kennedy Angbo (APC/Otukpo-Akpa) as the new Deputy Majority Leader.