From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Benue State House of Assembly has screened and confirmed seven members of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, (BSIEC).
They were confirmed on Friday March 22, 2024, during the plenary presided over by the speaker, Mr Aondona Dajoh.
Those screened and confirmed are John Chen who is the Chairman as well as Theodore Iordye Uchi, Solomon Aikighe Deva, Edache Isaac, Mrs. Gloria Clement, and Peter Baba Ogagbolo who are members.
Recall that the screening began on Thursday March 21,2024 with two members, Dr. Vincent Gisaor and Hon. Terhemen Shom screened.
While Terhemen Shom got confirmation, Dr. Gisaor Vincent who was nominated by the Governor for the post of the commission’s secretary was rejected over his nasty post insulting the Tiv people on Facebook.
Also at plenary today, the House received an apology letter from Dr. Gisaor Vincent which was read by the majority leader, Honorable Saater Tiseer over his Facebook post where he insulted the Tiv Nation, “ka Kpongu Tswar I Tiv.”
It was reported that when the nominee was ushered into the assembly chamber for screening, on Thursday, Mr. Cephas Dyako of Labour Party representing Konshisha State Constituency, pointed out that he had read a Facebook post by Gisaor which indicated that he is unfit to be a member of the state electoral body.
According to Dyako, what Mr Gisaor said in local parlance meant “your nyash to all the Tiv people” and as such he finds it very derogatory coming from a person of his standing.
The lawmaker pointed out that one of those who commented on the post even advised him to delete it and apologize but he adamantly refused to do so.
Other lawmakers unanimously supported Dyako, saying that the nominee was not fit to hold such public office and urged the house not to confirm his nomination.
When the nominee was asked to defend himself earlier, he explained that he met an elderly woman during a clash between Iharev and Iparev people of Tyo-mu in Makurdi Local Government and it was the woman who insulted the Tiv people while talking to him.
“I was merely quoting the woman but the recording I made of the woman’s reply to me when I asked what caused the fight unfortunately got deleted from the post”, had Gisaor said.
Speaking on Friday, stated that his outburst was because of the continuous communal crisis at Tyu-mu area of Makurdi. He pleaded for pardon from the members and those who felt pained by his actions.
But despite his plea, the House requested the Governor to send another nominee to fill the post of secretary of the commission.
The house adjourned for Easter break to resume on the 9th of April, 2024.