The Benue State House of Assembly has debunked speculations linking Governor Hyacinth Alia to the sudden resignation of its Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, insisting that the move was a matter of personal conviction and not political coercion.
Assembly spokesperson, Elias Audu, clarified the situation on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, stressing that the legislature remains an independent arm of government.
He maintained that members cannot be manipulated or pressured into decisions that undermine their collective will.
“If the governor had any interest, it is not within the knowledge of the Assembly. The Speaker was doing his job, and at some point, he felt it was time to step aside. He thanked the people for their support and chose to resign on his own terms,” Audu said.
He dismissed suggestions of a crisis in the legislature, stressing that the House continues to function smoothly despite the leadership shake-up.
“I am convinced that the Speaker resigned based on personal principle. Yes, we are in a political dispensation, but there is no fighting in the Benue Assembly. Our members are independent; you cannot coerce them,” he added.
Dajoh had on Sunday formally tendered his resignation through a letter addressed to the Clerk of the House.
In the letter, he said his decision was made “in good faith” and in the overall interest of the state, a move political observers see as a bid to douse rising speculations and prevent a deeper rift within the political class.
His resignation comes less than a year after he was elected Speaker, following the inauguration of the 10th Benue Assembly in June 2023.
Under his leadership, the Assembly passed several key motions and bills, including debates on security, education, and infrastructural development.
With Dajoh’s exit, the Assembly is expected to begin the process of electing a new Speaker, a development likely to shape the balance of power within the legislative chamber.
