Crisis deepens in Otukpo LG as councillors drag chairman to Benue Assembly

The standoff between the chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, and the legislative council has intensified just days after Governor Hyacinth Alia lifted the one-month suspension earlier imposed on the chairman by the Benue State House of Assembly.

Ogiri reportedly issued a directive ordering the council to suspend all legislative sittings, a move councillors say is driven by personal motives rather than genuine security concerns.

Council leader Philip Anya, in a petition submitted to the Benue Assembly, alleged that Ogiri halted legislative activities under the guise of insecurity.

A letter dated September 8, 2025, and signed by the council’s secretary, Simon Idenyi, instructed councillors to conduct their deliberations via social-media platforms “for the time being.”

The letter partly stated, “While the chairman is very much mindful of the fact that the postponement will affect the smooth running of the legislative arm for the time being, he therefore can not take the security advice for granted… chairman wishes to advice legislatures to explore other platforms such as, Whatsapp, Facebook etc to enhance legislative business for the time being.”

Anya and fellow members accused Ogiri of defying instructions from both the governor and the deputy governor to maintain the council’s former leadership structure. They urged the state assembly to probe alleged financial irregularities and to condemn what they described as the unlawful shutdown of the Otukpo legislative arm.

Their petition further demanded that “the Benue State House of Assembly immediately move in and take over the Otukpo legislative council and allow the councillors conduct their regular sessions under the watchful and protective eyes of the House of Assembly.”

Reacting, Ogiri confirmed awareness of the petition but insisted that the earlier letter citing security concerns had been withdrawn.

He explained that the suspension of legislative activities was instead due to ongoing repairs at the dilapidated council chamber, while the temporary hall is currently occupied by the Idoma Area Traditional Council and the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for traditional stool selections.

Ogiri himself had earlier faced a six-month suspension recommendation for alleged misconduct, later reduced to one month by Governor Alia.

The new Speaker, Alfred Emberger, lifted that suspension after about a week. Ogiri maintained he did not disobey the deputy governor’s directive to maintain the status quo, arguing the order came before his official resumption earlier in the week.

Crisis deepens in Otukpo LG as councillors drag chairman to Benue Assembly