Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, has dismissed Dr. John Chen, the chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission due to perceived incompetence.
This decision follows a resolution by the Benue State House of Assembly.
The Assembly adopted the resolution during a Thursday plenary session overseen by Speaker Chief Hon. Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh.
The resolution stemmed from a debate on a report from the House Standing Committee on Rules and Business, which had conducted a fact-finding interaction with BSIEC officials regarding the commission’s activities, including council ward creation and upcoming Local Government elections.
The House urged the state government to hire additional staff, supply official and operational vehicles, and construct a modern office for the commission’s staff.
During the lead debate, Comr. Saater Tiseer, Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Rules and Business and the House majority leader, presented the committee’s findings, highlighting issues such as workforce shortages, lack of vehicles, poor access roads to the commission’s headquarters, and an underdeveloped ICT unit.
Hon. Alfred Emberga, representing Makurdi North State Constituency, supported the chairman’s removal, citing his incompetence, lack of sincerity, and integrity, which he argued has damaged the commission’s reputation.
Emberga asserted that allowing the chairman to remain would further tarnish the commission’s image and called for his immediate removal to prevent further decline.
In the same plenary session, the House received a report from its committee on Water Resources, Environment, and Climate Change, detailing an oversight visit to the ministry.
This report, presented by committee chairman Samuel Agada of Ogbadibo State Constituency, was referred to the committee on Rules and Business for future debate.
Governor Alia, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Sir Tersoo Kula on Friday, affirmed the Assembly’s resolutions, including the immediate dismissal of Dr. John Chen from his position as BSIEC chairman.
Kula noted that the Assembly accused Chen of poor judgement and actions not aligning with public interest, adding, “Governor Alia has accepted the resolutions and directed the Chairman of the commission to immediately hand over to the Administrative secretary of the commission.”
