Benue Assembly Dissolves Principal Officers, Makes Fresh Appointments

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

The Benue State House of Assembly, on Thursday, dissolved its leadership and only retained  the Speaker, Mr Alfred Emberga and the Deputy Lamin Danladi.

This followed a motion moved by the former Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Douglas Akya (APC/Makurdi South), during plenary on Thursday in Makurdi.

Akya said that since he was from the same local government with the speaker, it would be morally wrong for him to continue to function as the deputy majority leader.

He said that it was morally right for him to step aside and allow the house to appoint another colleague of his to step in as the deputy majority leader.  

He further said that apart from the speaker and the deputy speaker that were elected, every other officer that was appointed should be dissolved.

The motion was seconded by Mr Cyril Ikong (APC/Oju), stating that the motion was apt and timely.

Ruling, the speaker, put the matter to vote and members unanimously agreed that the officers that were appointed into various offices ranging from the Majority Leader down to the Deputy Minority Whip should be dissolved and new persons appointed to man the offices.

The speaker then announced that Pharm. Thomas Dugeri (APC/Kwande West) as the Majority Leader, Dr Abraham Jabi (APC/Buruku) as the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Cyril Ikong (APC/Oju) as  Majority Chief Whip and Mr Simon Gabo (APC/Mata) as the deputy Chief Whip.

Others were Mr Abu Umoru (PDP/Apa) as the Minority Leader, Mr Cephas Dyako (LP/Konshisha) as the Deputy Minority Leader, while 

Mr Samuel Jiji (PDP/Logo) as the Minority Chip Whip and Mr Moses Egbodo (PDP/Obi) as Deputy Minority Whip.