Benue: Otukpo LG legislative council petitions state Assembly as chairman suspends legislative business

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

The legislative council, Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA), of Benue State has petitioned the 10th State Assembly, accusing the council Chairman, Maxwell Ogiri, of suspending legislative business on what it described as ‘frivolities’.

Leader of the legislative council, Philip Anya, in a petition signed by the Secretary to the LG, Simon Idenyi, said the council chairman suspended the legislative business on the grounds of insecurity.

The letter, dated Monday, September 8, 2025, directed the councillors to make use of social media for their legislative business for the time being.

The letter read, “While the chairman is very much mindful of the fact that the postponement will affect the smooth running of the legislative arm for the time being, he therefore cannot take the security advice for granted.

“In view of this, the chairman wishes to advise legislators to explore other platforms, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, etc., to enhance legislative business for the time being.”

The Anya-led members alleged that the chairman also ignored the directive of both the governor and the deputy to maintain the status quo on the earlier removal of the leader of the house.

The members not only called on the State Assembly to condemn the continued closure of Otukpo’s legislative arm of government but also to set up an ad hoc committee to look at the report of the dissolved House Standing Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, where alleged financial misconducts were unearthed.

The Anya-led members also called on the House to summon the chairman to explain why he has continued to refuse to adhere to the directives of Their Excellencies and the House to allow the legislative arm to function.

“That the Benue State House of Assembly immediately move in and take over the Otukpo legislative council and allow the councillors to conduct their regular sessions under the watchful and protective eyes of the House of Assembly,” the petition read in part.

When contacted, the chairman, Prince Maxwell Ogiri, who said he was aware of the petition, acknowledged the letter suspending legislative business due to security issues but said that the letter had been withdrawn and replaced with fresh reasons.

Ogiri said that the reason for suspending legislative business was a result of ongoing work at the dilapidated legislative chamber, which he said was not conducive to legislative business.

“Also, the council hall that the legislators have been using as a temporary chamber is being occupied by the Idoma Area Traditional Council and the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for the selection of vacant stools in Idoma land,” the Chairman said.

Ogiri was earlier recommended for a six-month suspension by the State House of Assembly for alleged misconduct, but the suspension was reduced to one month by the state governor, Hyacinth Alia.

He had hardly spent a week of the suspension when the new Speaker of the House, Alfred Emberger, lifted his suspension and that of two others.

Ogiri, who said that he only resumed office on Monday, said that the impeachment of Philip Anya and the House Majority Leader was done without his knowledge.

He also said that he never ignored the directive of the deputy governor to maintain the status quo, saying the directive was given before he assumed office this Monday.