The Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the continued suspension of the immediate past Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly and member representing Gboko West State Constituency, Aondona Dajoh, describing the development as a threat to democracy in the state.
The party said the action amounts to political persecution, abuse of power, and a calculated attempt to suppress opposition voices within the state legislature.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the State Publicity Secretary, Bright Yima Antyo, the PDP recalled that Dajoh was first suspended over allegations of an impeachment plot against Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The party said that months after the allegation was made public, no credible evidence had been presented to substantiate the claim.
It further noted that the suspension was later extended for another six months over what it described as a new allegation of a plot against the current Speaker, adding that no convincing evidence was also made available to the public.
The PDP said the latest extension of the suspension by another three months, reportedly without a clear stated reason, reflects what it described as a “disturbing pattern of endless punishment without transparency or fairness.”
The party called on the leadership of the State Assembly to immediately reconsider Dajoh’s continued suspension and uphold principles of fairness, transparency, and democratic accountability.
Antyo also urged civil society organisations, constitutional advocates, and democracy stakeholders to closely monitor developments in the Benue State House of Assembly and speak out against actions capable of undermining democratic governance and the rule of law.
The statement further read in part, “This has raised a serious concern about the state of democracy and legislative independence in Benue State. A situation where an elected lawmaker can be repeatedly punished on the basis of unproven allegations sends a dangerous message to the public and weakens confidence in democratic institutions.
“Benue PDP believes that what is happening to its candidate for Gboko West State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Aondona Dajoh, goes beyond ordinary ‘legislative discipline’. It increasingly appears to be a deliberate attempt to politically isolate and silence a perceived independent voice within the Assembly.
“Even more unfortunate is the fact that the people of Gboko West Constituency have effectively been denied proper representation in the Benue State House of Assembly for almost one year due to suspensions based on accusations without any publicly available proof.”
Meanwhile, the Benue State House of Assembly had on Tuesday extended the suspension of Dajoh and former Majority Leader Saater Tiseer by an additional three months, pending the determination of separate court cases instituted against the legislature or the withdrawal of the suits.
