After three rounds of voting, the member representing Gboko West constituency, Hon. Aondona Hyacinth Dajoh today emerged the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly.
The process witnessed moments of commotion as members engaged in a shouting match intermittently.
The session had begun with the Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia inaugurating the 10th assembly, paving the way for its 32 members to elect a speaker and deputy speaker.
Going into the election, Dajoh had the backing of the governor and his loyalists in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. In his nomination acceptance speech, he urged members to vote for him, saying he is a humble man who is flexible to work with.
His rival, Hon. Becky Orpine, who represents Gboko East, was nominated by the pro-George Akume camp of the APC and had the backing of the state working committee of the party.
One of only two female lawmakers, Orpine canvassed for support for women in politics in her nomination acceptance speech.
The position was zoned to Gboko Local Government Area (LGA) which is in the Benue North-West senatorial district. The governor is from Vandeikya LGA of Benue North-East senatorial zone, while the Deputy Governor is from Otukpo LGA of Benue South senatorial district.
At the first ballot, which ended around 11:28 am, the two candidates were tied at 16 votes each with the Clerk of the assembly noting that there would be another round of voting.
The representative of Konshisha constituency and only member of the Labour Party, Hon. Cephas Diako called for the next round of election to be held without the Governor, the Senator-elect for Benue North-West, Titus Tartenger Zam; and the party leadership.
According to him, the presence of the three leaders put pressure on the members to vote for each of their preferred candidates.
The House proceeded on a 10-minute break to reconvene for another round of voting, allowing members to consult one another.
When the second round of voting commenced, there was a shouting match among members over an alleged plot by some members attempting to influence other to vote for a particular candidate.
For several minutes, pro-Akume and pro-Alia supporters backing their respective nominees loudly called for the cancellation of the second round of voting over alleged influence on the voting process.
The third round of voting started around 3:31 pm and ended at 3:38 pm. Counting immediately commenced, ending with 15 votes for Orpine and 17 for Dajoh, making him the elected speaker of the 10th assembly.
While inaugurating the 10th session earlier, the Governor had pledged not to interfere with its internal affairs, especially in the election of its leaders.
Alia charged the legislators to collaborate with the executive arm of government in order to deliver the much-expected dividends of democracy to the Benue people.
He assured the lawmakers of his administration’s support at all times and solicited constructive engagements and support from the legislature and judicial arms of governments to enable them actualise the set goals.
Alia urged the legislators to be exemplary in their conduct, stressing that the state had placed so many expectations on them, hence the need to deliver on their mandate.
According to the governor, the legislature not only gives the people a voice in affairs of government but provides the bedrock for the rule of law, equity, and justice to reign in the polity.
“Due to the big role the legislature plays side by side with the judiciary and the executive arm of government, we are fully prepared to respect the sanctity of the doctrine of the separation of powers under democracy”, he said.
Alia said he was prepared to meaningfully work with those who they choose to lead the house.
He, however, advised them to choose among themselves those that they would always be proud of their leadership qualities.
“We will support the House with the training and retraining of staff and members of the house”, he said.
The Clerk of the House, Mr. Bernard Nule congratulated the new and returning members on their victories and welcomed them to the House for serious legislative business.
