Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has sacked the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), Dr. John Chen, following a recommendation from the Benue State House of Assembly.
The House, presided over by Speaker Mr. Hyacinth Dajoh, called for Chen’s removal on grounds of alleged incompetence after a fact-finding visit by the House Standing Committee on Rules and Business. The House also urged the state government to employ more staff, provide an access road to the Commission’s headquarters, and improve the office accommodation for BSIEC staff.
Governor Alia accepted the House’s resolutions and directed Dr. Chen to immediately hand over to the Administrative Secretary of the commission.
The sacking comes amidst ongoing nationwide protests against hardship and bad governance in Nigeria. Security forces have clashed with protesters in Abuja, leading to the arrest of 32 individuals for vandalism by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The protests have spread to various states, with some areas experiencing relative calm while others continue to see unrest.