Benue Assembly recommends sack of SIEC Chair

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Benue State House of Assembly has recommended the removal of the chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission, BSIEC, Dr.John Chen.
The House made the recommendation during Thursday’s plenary presided by the Honourable Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh.
Though no cogent reason was adduced for the recommendation, but anonymous source from the house said it is due to incompetency and failure to conduct local government election.
Recalled that the Commission had earlier proposed July 6 for conduct of local government polls but shifted it to November.
The recommendation for the sack of SIEC Chair followed a debate on the report of the house standing committee on Rules and Business which had interacted with officials of the commission on its activities including the creation of new council wards and rescheduled local government elections.
The house also called on the state government to employ more staff to beef up manpower, provide official and operational vehicles to the commission as well as build a modern office accommodation.
Also, commenting on the recommendation for the removal of chairman of the commission, member representing Makurdi North State constituency Hon. Alfred Emberga said the failure of the Chairman to conduct local government elections as when stipulated generated tension across the State.
On his part, member representing Kwande west constituency Mr Thomas Dugeri advised the house to temper justice with mercy and give the chairman a second chance for the stability of BSIEC.