Akume, Benue Gov Test Strength As Dajoh Emerges Assembly Speaker
The member representing Gboko West State Constituency, Aondona Dajoh, Monday, emerged as the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly.
The two contestants had tied in the first ballot, which produced 16:16 votes.
Lamin Danladi, a female lawmaker from Ado State Constituency, emerged as the Deputy Speaker.
The speakership tussle has no doubt opened Pandora’s box in the politics of the state in the days ahead.
The battle for the Assembly speakership pitted the governor, Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia, against the leader of the party in the state and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
While Akume had thrown his weight behind Mrs. Orpin, his one-time media aide, Governor Alia, in collaboration with other chieftains of the All Progressives Congress and a one-time governor of the state, were reported to have settled for Dajoh.
The state party chairman, Austin Agada, had earlier said that the party had resolved on Orpin and warned the members against anti-party activity.
Following the tension the speakership tussle generated, security operatives had, as early as 6 am on Monday, been deployed to the Assembly complex to beef up security.
As tension heightened and the first ballot could not produce a winner, supporters of Opin insisted that the state governor, Alia, who was at the chamber, step out before the second ballot would commence.
Some of the members who shouted on top of their voices alleged that some members were under pressure due to the presence of the governor.
The exchange of banter between the two opposing sides stalled the commencement of the second round of the election for over three hours.
Some of the lawmakers were seen banging tables and engaging one another in a shouting match.
At the time the House reconvened around 3:28 pm, the Clerk of the House, Bernard Nule, ordered all non-members and visitors except the media to leave the chamber before the commencement of the second ballot.
