The Benue State House of Assembly has dissolved its leadership and only retained the Speaker, Mr Alfred Emberga, and the Deputy Speaker, Lamin Danladi.
The dissolution of the leadership followed a motion moved by the former Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Douglas Akya (APC/Makurdi South), during plenary on Thursday in Makurdi.
Akya said that since he was from the same local government area as the speaker, it would be morally wrong for him to continue to function as the deputy majority leader.
The former deputy majority leader said that it was morally right for him to step aside and allow the house to appoint another colleague as the deputy majority leader.
He further said that apart from the speaker and the deputy speaker that were elected, every other officer that was appointed should be dissolved.
The motion was seconded by Mr Cyril Ikong (APC/Oju), stating that the motion was apt and timely.
Ruling, the speaker put the matter to vote, and members unanimously agreed that the officers that were appointed into various offices ranging from the majority leader to deputy minority whip be dissolved and new persons appointed.
The speaker then announced Mr Thomas Dugeri (APC/Kwande West) as the Majority Leader, Dr Abraham Jabi (APC/Buruku) as the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Cyril Ikong (APC/Oju) as the Majority Chief Whip and Mr Simon Gabo (APC/Mata) as the Deputy Chief Whip.
Others were Mr Abu Umoru (PDP/Apa) as the Minority Leader and Mr Cephas Dyako (LP/Konshisha) as the Deputy Minority Leader.
Also appointed were Mr Samuel Jiji (PDP/Logo) as the Minority Chief Whip and Mr Moses Egbodo (PDP/Obi) as Deputy Minority Whip.