Benue Governor Fires All Commissioners in Shock Move, Appoints New Chief of Staff

By Esther Odili

Makurdi, Benue State – In a stunning shake-up, Governor Hyacinth Alia has dissolved the entire Benue State Executive Council, ordering all commissioners to vacate their offices and hand over immediately.

The bombshell announcement came at the close of the 12th Executive Council meeting of 2025 and was confirmed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, in a late-night statement on Wednesday, July 30.

But that’s not all — Governor Alia wasted no time filling a key position, appointing Barrister Moses Atagher, a two-term former Attorney General and ex-acting Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank, as his new Chief of Staff.

“The governor appreciates all outgoing commissioners for their service and urges them to stay committed to the party, as others will now have a chance to serve,” the statement read.

Speaking on behalf of the dismissed officials, Barrister Bemsen Mnyim thanked the governor for the opportunity, describing their time in office as a “school of leadership.”

While only commissioners were affected by the purge, the move has sparked speculation about who Governor Alia will bring into his new team — and whether this signals a major policy shift in the state.

This is not the first time a Nigerian governor has made such a bold call. Just months ago, Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule dissolved his cabinet in a similar sweeping action.

With Alia’s next appointments under watch, Benue’s political scene is bracing for what could be the beginning of a new power play.

What do you think of Governor Alia’s move?
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