Benue Assembly suspends four lawmakers
The Benue State House of Assembly has suspended four lawmakers, including the Deputy Chief Whip, Alfred Berger (APC/Makurdi North), for three months over alleged attempts to incite chaos within the chamber.
Others affected are Shimawua Emmanuel (APC/Tiev), Cyril Ikong (APC/Oju II), and Abu Umoru (PDP/Apa).
The suspension followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Saater Tiseer (APC/Mbagwa), during Friday’s plenary in Makurdi. Tiseer had urged the assembly to suspend the members for six months, describing their conduct as unbecoming of lawmakers.
According to him, the 10th Assembly, like every legislature, is a hallowed institution where the words and actions of members should reflect honour and integrity.
He recalled that only on Wednesday, August 20, the House unanimously passed a vote of confidence in its leadership and Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration, stressing that it was worrisome that some members had immediately begun mobilising others to disrupt the peace of the assembly.
“Their actions are inimical to the peaceful coexistence of the House and must not be tolerated,” Tiseer said, insisting that the assembly must condemn in strong terms the “dishonourable behaviour” of Berger and his colleagues.
The motion was seconded by Elias Audu (APC/Gwer East), who alleged that non-state actors had been intimidating the Speaker and the House leadership, warning colleagues not to allow themselves to be used as instruments of destabilisation.
Similarly, Bemdoo Ipusu (APC/Katsina-Ala) said he was disappointed that a ranking member would take steps capable of threatening the unity of the assembly.
In his ruling, Speaker Hyacinth Dajoh announced the suspension of the four lawmakers for three months. He further dissolved all House committees and made new appointments: Elias Audu as Chairman of the Information Committee, Douglas Akya (APC/Makurdi South) as Deputy Chief Whip, and Kennedy Angbo (APC/Otukpo-Akpa) as Deputy Majority Leader.
