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By Tracy Moses
Tension within Benue State’s political circle has deepened as fresh revelations suggest Governor Hyacinth Alia may have played a key role in the sudden exit of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Aondona Dajoh.
What began as routine legislative disagreements, insiders claim, eventually snowballed into a full-blown confrontation between the executive and the legislative arms
Speaking exclusively to Pointblanknews.com, a lawmaker who requested anonymity disclosed that Dajoh had repeatedly sought to reconcile Assembly members loyal to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume. At first, those moves were not considered a challenge to Governor Alia.
The crisis, however, allegedly escalated when the Speaker unilaterally recalled suspended members of the Assembly without consulting the Governor. Although the issue was initially overlooked, matters worsened when Dajoh allegedly began convening sensitive meetings without the Governor’s knowledge. At one such meeting, some lawmakers were said to have threatened the Governor with possible impeachment if their demands were ignored.
Further straining relations, the Assembly under Dajoh passed resolutions suspending the Chairperson of SUBEB and the State Lottery Board, Dr. Grace Adagba, while also moving to probe alleged contract scandals. “Those actions shook the Governor, who saw them as an attempt to undermine his authority,” the source alleged.
The breaking point came after a controversial remark attributed to the Speaker, “This is the time to eat the meat and break the bones,” which Governor Alia’s camp interpreted as an open call to confront the administration.
The faceoff over commissioner nominees
Another Assembly insider revealed that the final clash came when lawmakers rejected some commissioner nominees, insisting on conditions such as vehicles for suspended members and the removal of certain individuals. The refusal to confirm Associate Professor of Law, Yangien Ornguga, and James Dwem as commissioners was viewed in Government House as outright defiance.
According to sources, Governor Alia eventually summoned Dajoh and asked him to resign, arguing that he had lost control of the Assembly. “This happened last week,” the insider said.
Beyond these events, investigations by Pointblanknews.com indicate that Dajoh’s decision to scrutinize contract awards also unsettled the Governor. A political observer who spoke to our correspondent suggested that the Speaker may have underestimated Alia’s leadership approach, which many insiders describe as anchored on a “divide-and-rule” tactic.
The observer added that while there are speculations about a possible return of Dajoh to the Speaker’s seat, such an outcome would depend strictly on fresh conditions set by the Executive.
Government House denies involvement
Meanwhile, the Benue State Government has distanced Governor Alia from the Speaker’s resignation saga.
In a statement issued on August 22, 2025, Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, dismissed claims of the Governor’s involvement. Titled “Governor Alia Has No Hand in Any Attempt to Remove Speaker Dajoh”, the statement stressed that the Governor remained committed to the independence of the Legislature and respected the principle of separation of powers.
It further noted that Governor Alia had consistently responded to Assembly resolutions, citing recent instances where his office promptly implemented decisions forwarded by the House.
Kula maintained that the Governor continued to enjoy a cordial working relationship with the Dajoh-led Assembly, adding that his administration was committed to supporting the Legislature for the overall progress of Benue State.
What next?
Another insiders say attention is now shifting to whether ongoing negotiations could pave the way for Dajoh’s reinstatement, albeit under stricter conditions. “Let’s see how it goes today,” he said.