The Benue State House of Assembly has defied the House of Representatives’ invitation to its Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, and leadership, labeling the move as ignorant. During a plenary session, the House rejected the invitation and instructed the Speaker to disregard the summons. This decision followed a petition by the group “Guardians of Democracy,” which urged the National Assembly to intervene in the crisis within the Benue House of Assembly. The House of Representatives had responded by inviting the Benue Assembly’s Speaker and leadership to appear before it on May 8, 2025, to address the suspension of 13 members.
In a resolution passed on May 6, 2025, the Benue Assembly called the summons unconstitutional, citing violations of Nigeria’s Constitution. The Assembly also indicated its readiness to pursue legal action against the National Assembly, while requesting the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Inspector General of Police to investigate the individuals behind the petition. Additionally, the Assembly called for an engagement with Benue’s National Assembly caucus to clarify the portrayal of the state in the petition.
The Majority Leader, Comr. Saater Tiseer, asserted that the National Assembly’s notice was based on ignorance, referencing Nigeria’s Constitution, which grants the Benue House of Assembly independence in its legislative functions. Tiseer emphasized that Benue’s Assembly is not answerable to the National Assembly. Lawmaker Bemdoo Ipusu also supported the decision to take legal action, pointing out that the petitioning group had misrepresented the situation, notably by including the name of Peter Uche among the suspended members, showing their lack of understanding of the events.
Other members, including Micheal Audu and Peter Uche, criticized the National Assembly’s actions, insisting that the group was misinformed. Uche, still active in his duties, expressed confusion about why his name had been included in the list of those suspended, reinforcing the idea that the National Assembly was not properly informed about the situation in Benue. The Benue House of Assembly firmly rejected any external interference, underscoring that it was fulfilling its duties as an independent legislative body.
