Fresh details have emerged surrounding the sudden resignation of Aondona Dajoh, the immediate past Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly.

Dajoh abruptly stepped down on Sunday afternoon, and within hours, Hon. Alfred Berger Ermberga, a lawmaker who was recently suspended over an alleged plot to unseat him, was sworn in as the new Speaker. The dramatic turn of events has fueled widespread speculation, as no official reason has yet been provided for Dajoh’s removal.

According to Lagos-based journalist and former spokesman to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Ismail Omipidan, Dajoh’s resignation was closely linked to his handling of the legislative screening of commissioner nominees.

In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page, titled “Benue House: Why Speaker Dajoh Was Removed,” Omipidan suggested that Dajoh was punished for defending the independence of the legislature.

“The former Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, was courageous in carrying out the screening of nominees for commissioners last week. But I knew the rejection of the younger brother of the Tor Tiv, an Associate Professor of Law, Yangien Ornguga, would trigger crisis,” he wrote.

Tor Tiv is the title of the supreme traditional ruler of the Tiv people. Ornguga, a lecturer at Benue State University, Makurdi, is the younger brother of the Tor Tiv, Professor James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, who is known to be close to Governor Hyacinth Alia. Reports indicate that the governor had allocated a cabinet slot to the Tor Tiv, leading to Ornguga’s nomination.

However, lawmakers, citing multiple petitions, found Ornguga unsuitable and rejected his nomination—a decision believed to have angered both the governor and the Tor Tiv, ultimately costing Dajoh his speakership.

Omipidan further hinted that Ornguga’s name could be re-presented to the House.

“Watch out, the rejected nominee may be presented to the House again. And if and when that happens, he may no longer be found wanting. We are watching,” he added.