On Sunday, August 24, members of the 10th Benue Assembly convened an emergency sitting and elected Rt. Hon. Alfred Aondover Emberga, 36, Makurdi North (APC) as Speaker, to fill the void created by the resignation of the former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aondona Hyacinth Dajoh, Gboko West (APC). His election as Speaker came less than 30 minutes after he was recalled from a three- month suspension.
Prior to the sitting, Rt. Hon. Dajoh had turned in a letter, communicating his resignation from office. Rt. Hon. Dajoh, had in a handwritten letter, addressed to the Clerk of the House, said the resignation was “In good faith and in the best interest of the state.”
Two days earlier, the former Speaker had presided over the House’s sitting, during which his successor and three others including, Cyril Ekong, Oju II (APC), Hon. Abu Umoru, Apa, and Hon. Terna Shimawua, Kyan (APC), were suspended “for conspiracy and attempt to cause chaos in the house.”
However, in a swift turn of events, Hon Douglas Akya, Makurdi South (APC), in moving a motion for the election of Rt. Hon. Emberga as Speaker said it was important to elect “somebody who is able to cement” a good working relationship with the executive arm of government to “help in fast tracking the achievement of the present administration of His Excellency Governor Alia (Hyacinth).”
“We know ourselves, and I believe that my colleagues will agree with me that the person I am going to nominate today fits this criteria. It is therefore, my honour to nominate our colleague, our brother, who is a bridge builder and a leader, Honourable Berger Alfred Emberga, who represents the northern side of Makurdi, to the office of the Speaker of 10th Benue Assembly,” Hon Akya moved the House.
The motion was seconded by Abu Umoru James, who said that as a ranking member and having interacted well with the Makurdi North State Constituency representative, he knows Rt. Hon. Emberga has the capacity to take the House of Assembly from wherever Rt. Hon. Dajoh stopped to the next level.
There was no other nomination.
Rt. Hon. Emberga, who accepted his nomination, was sworn in as Speaker by the Clerk of the House. He promised that his leadership would be anchored on inclusiveness, fairness, and respect for diverse opinions.
“The House under my leadership will work harmoniously with the executive and judiciary while maintaining our independence in line with the principle of separation of powers. Distinguished Honourable colleagues, together we shall ensure that the dignity and integrity of this Assembly is upheld at all times.
“Finally, I call on all members to join hands with me in unity of purpose. Our people are yearning for peace and progress. It is our duty to rise above personal interests and partisanship to make laws that will improve lives, strengthen institutions, and advance overall progress of this state,” the Speaker stated in his acceptance speech.
Last Sunday, the Governor of Benue State, Fr. Hyacinth Alia, at St. George’s Parish Tyobo, Gboko, gave insight into why the former speaker resigned.
The governor indicated that the former speaker was bribed “to cut” his head.
There were speculations that the former speaker was meeting with some “powerful politicians in Abuja” to impeach the governor. Rt. Hon. Dajoh, however, denied any involvement.
Born on August 1, 1987, the incumbent speaker was educated at Government Science School Obi, Nigeria Army Institute of Technology and Environmental Studies (NAITES), Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), for his Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), National Diploma (ND), Higher National Diploma (HND), Bachelor’s Degree respectively. He is currently a Master’s degree student at Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University Makurdi (MOAUM).
He first came to political limelight when he was appointed as Acting Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Benue State chapter after the 2015 general election.
In 2023, the speaker contested the Makurdi North State Constituency seat on the platform of APC, an election he was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
