Benue Assembly extends suspension of Kwande Chairman by six months

The Benue State House of Assembly has extended the suspension of Kwande Local Government Chairman, Vitalis Neji, by another six months over allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office.

The extension was approved during Thursday’s plenary in Makurdi following a motion sponsored by the Majority Leader, Bemdoo Ipusu, and seconded by the Minority Leader, Isaac Ochekliye.

Presiding over the sitting, Speaker Alfred Emberga directed the acting council chairman, Rita Iortsor, to continue overseeing the affairs of the local government pending the conclusion of investigations into the allegations against Neji.

Neji was initially suspended on August 20, 2026, for three months after lawmakers considered an interim report by an ad hoc committee set up to investigate allegations of misconduct against him.

Presenting the committee’s findings during the earlier sitting, the then Majority Leader and committee chairman, Bemdoo Ipusu, said Neji appeared before the panel but failed to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the allegations.

In its report, the committee stated that Neji “was unable to satisfactorily defend himself against the allegations levelled against him.”

The lawmakers subsequently recommended his suspension to allow further investigation, prompting Speaker Emberga to announce that the decision would take immediate effect.

With the latest extension, Neji will remain suspended for another six months, while Iortsor continues as acting chairman of the council.

The Assembly has yet to disclose the outcome of the ongoing investigation or indicate when a final decision on Neji’s position will be reached.