Benue Lawmakers raise alarm over indefinite suspension of legislative sitting by council chairman.

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

The Otukpo Local Government legislative council in Benue State, on Thursday, accused the council chairman, Prince Maxwell Ogiri of frivolously suspending the legislative business of the council.

Leader of the legislative council, Philip Anya in a petition written to the state assembly lamented that the council chairman suspended the legislative business on account of insecurity where there was none.

In a letter dated September,8, 2025, a copy made available to our correspondent on Thursday and signed by the Secretary to the LG, Simon Idenyi directed the councillors to make use of social media for their legislative business for the main time.

The letter partly read, “While the chairman is very much mindful of the fact that the postponement will affect the smooth running of the legislative arm for the time being, he therefore can not take the security advice for granted.

“In view of this, chairman wishes to advice legislatures to explore other platforms such as, Whatsapp, Facebook etc to enhance legislative business for the time being “.

The Anya led members alleged that the chairman also ignored the directive of both the governor and the deputy to maintain the status quo on the earlier removal of the leader of the house.

The members not only called on the State Assembly to condemn the continued closure of Otukpo legislative arm of government but to also set up an ad hoc committee  to look at the report of the dissolved House standing committee on Local government and chieftaincy affairs over the alleged  financial misconducts were unearthed. 

The Anya led members also called on the house to summon the chairman  to tell them why he has continued to refuse to adhere to the directives of His Excellencies and the house to allow the legislative arm function.

“That the Benue State House of Assembly immediately move in and take over the Otukpo legislative council and allow the councillors conduct their regular sessions under the watchful and protective eyes of the House of Assembly”, the petition read partly.

When contacted, the chairman, Prince Maxwell Ogiri who said he was aware of the petition acknowleded the letter susoending legislative business due to security issue but said that the letter had been withdrawn and replaced with a fresh reasons.

Ogiri said that the reason for suspending legislative business was as a result of the ongoing work at the dilapidated legislative chamber which he said was not conducive for legislative business.

“Also, the council hall that the legislators have been using as a temporary chamber is being occupied by the Idoma Area Traditional Council and the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for the selection of the vacant stools in Idoma land,” the Chairman said.

Ogiri  was earlier recommended for six months suspension by the state house of assembly for alleged misconduct but the suspension was reduced to one month by the state governor, Hyacinth Alia.

He had hardly spent a week of the suspension when the new speaker of the house, Alfred Emberger lifted his suspension and that of two others.

Ogiri who said that he only resumed office on Monday said that the impeachment of Philip Anya and the house majority leader was done without his knowledge.

He also said that he never ignored the  directive of the deputy governor to maintain status quo, saying the directive was given before he assumed office this Monday.