Former Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh, has accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of orchestrating his removal from office. His grievance stems from his refusal to support moving the Tor Tiv Palace from Gboko to Ihugh in Vandeikya Local Government Area, the governor's hometown.
Dajoh made the allegations during his 50th birthday celebration in Gboko last week. He spoke before political associates, traditional rulers, family members and supporters gathered for the event.
According to him, Governor Alia sent an official letter directing the palace relocation. He rejected the proposal outright.
"The governor wrote asking me to move the Tor Tiv Palace from Gboko to his community, Ihugh," Dajoh told the gathering. "I said no.
I told him that was a plot to kill me."
He claimed that powerful figures in the governor's circle threatened his position as Speaker. Moses Ternenge, described as one of Alia's two most influential advisers, allegedly warned him about the consequences.
According to Dajoh, Ternenge said: "If you reject this proposal, consider your speakership gone." The former Speaker presented this as a direct threat tied to his opposition to the palace relocation.
Dajoh also leveled fresh accusations against the governor regarding the Chief Judge of Benue State. He alleged that Alia spent over N200 million trying unsuccessfully to remove Justice Maurice Ikpambese.
He further criticized the governor's treatment of the Jemgbagh people and other communities. Dajoh recalled a 2023 campaign statement by Alia in Jemgbagh territory.
"Alia once said that anyone oppressing the Jemgbagh people would face madness," Dajoh noted. "But he has oppressed Tor Jemgbagh, taken their Speaker to another zone, and harmed their sons."
Governor Alia's Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, dismissed the entire narrative as false. He called Dajoh's claims baseless and misleading.
Kula characterized the allegations as conspiracy theories and fabrications. He denied that the governor ever sent any such letter about the palace.
"No letter requesting palace relocation was sent by Governor Alia," Kula stated firmly. "This claim is entirely false, baseless and imaginary."
Kula challenged Dajoh to produce the alleged correspondence. He argued that any official executive communication to the legislature would follow proper procedures.
"Such a letter would be documented under legislative rules," the press secretary noted. "Where is this evidence?"
He described Dajoh's statements as reckless and unfounded. Kula suggested the former Speaker was engaged in spreading conspiracy theories against the administration.
