Benue Assembly gets new principal officers

From Scholastica Hir Makurdi

The Benue State House of Assembly has dissolved its principal officers, retaining only the Speaker, Mr Alfred Emberga and the Deputy Lami Danladi-Ogenyi.

This followed a motion moved by the former Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Douglas Akya during plenary, yesterday.

Akya said 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 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. 

The motion was seconded by Mr Cyril Ikong, member representing Oju State Constituency, 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, therefore, announced 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) emerged as the Minority Chief Whip and Mr Moses Egbodo (PDP/Obi) as Deputy Minority Whip.