Benue: Gov Alia Sacks BSIEC Chairman

Gov Hyacinth Alia

Benue State Governor, Rev Hyacinth Alia, has sacked the chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), Dr John Chen.

This decision was made due to concerns regarding his competence, following a resolution passed by the Benue State House of Assembly.

The resolution was adopted during a plenary session on Thursday, which was overseen by the Speaker, Chief Hon. Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh.

The decision stemmed from discussions regarding the findings of the House Standing Committee on Rules and Business, which engaged with BSIEC officials about the commission’s operations, including the establishment of council wards and the upcoming local government elections.

Additionally, the House urged the state government to enhance the commission’s workforce by hiring more personnel, providing necessary operational vehicles, and constructing a modern office facility for the commission’s staff.

In his lead debate, Comr. Saater Tiseer, the Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Rules and Business and the majority leader highlighted several issues faced by the commission, including a lack of personnel, insufficient operational vehicles, inadequate access to the commission’s headquarters, and an underdeveloped ICT unit.

In response to the recommendation for the dismissal of the commission’s chairman, Hon. Alfred Emberga, the representative for Makurdi North State Constituency, expressed his support for the chairman’s removal. He asserted that the chairman’s incompetence, along with a lack of sincerity and integrity, has fostered negative perceptions regarding the esteemed Commission.

Berger emphasized that allowing the chairman to continue in his position would further damage the Commission’s reputation.

He called upon fellow members to endorse his prompt removal from office to prevent additional deterioration of the Commission.

During the plenary session, the House also received a report from its committee on Water Resources, Environment, and Climate Change regarding an oversight visit to the ministry, which the committee chairman, Samuel Agada of Ogbadibo State Constituency, presented.

This report was subsequently referred to the Committee on Rules and Business for discussion at a later date.

In a swift response, Governor Alia endorsed the assembly’s resolutions calling for the immediate dismissal of the BSIEC Chairman.

This information was conveyed in a statement on Friday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula.

Sir Kula confirmed that the governor had received the assembly’s resolution, which included the recommendation for the removal of Dr. John Chen from his position as chairman of the Commission.

He noted that the Assembly had criticized the BSIEC chairman for his poor judgment regarding decisions that would resonate with the majority of stakeholders, asserting that his actions thus far have not aligned with the public interest.

“Governor Alia has accepted the resolutions and directed the Chairman of the commission to immediately hand over to the Administrative secretary of the commission,” Kula said.