A Channels Television correspondent in Benue State, Pius Angbo, has recounted his experience after he was assaulted by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Alfred Berger, following tensions that arose during coverage of the All Progressives Congress (APC) local government congress in Makurdi, the state capital.
Angbo explained that on February 21, 2026, he, alongside colleagues from AIT and Arise Television, covered an affirmation congress held in the Madikpo area of Wadata, Makurdi.
The event was organised by a faction of the APC reportedly aligned with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
The coverage followed earlier reporting on February 20 at the APC state secretariat, where the caretaker committee chairman, Benjamin Omale, oversaw the distribution of congress materials to the 23 local government areas.
Omale had stated that the ward, local government, and state congresses were elective and that no formal complaints had been received regarding the process.
However, differences emerged over the interpretation of the party’s National Executive Committee guidelines.
The publicity secretary of the APC state executive, who is aligned with the SGF, Dan Ihomun, invited media organisations to cover what he described as a non-elective affirmation congress in Madikpo.
At the event, returning officer Hilthler Akya affirmed the existing local government executive through a voice vote. Party stakeholder Audu Akange maintained that the process complied with NEC guidelines.
According to Angbo, shortly after the coverage, he received a phone call from the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, who expressed dissatisfaction with the report and questioned his presence at what was described as a parallel congress.
He said that Berger warned him against filing the report and indicated he would report the matter to Governor Hyacinth Alia.
“Pius, why did you go to cover the meeting with few people organised by Audu Akange? If you file that report, I will report you to the governor. I will deal with you,” the Speaker said.
The correspondent explained that moments later, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula, contacted the journalist to inquire about the coverage, stating that the governor had raised concerns about reports of a parallel congress.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Council, Bemdoo Ugber, subsequently reached out to Angbo to seek clarification about the venue of the event.
After he explained that the congress took place in Madikpo, Wadata — and not at a private residence — the NUJ chairman conveyed an invitation from Terhemen Tarzoo to discuss the matter.
Angbo said that upon his arrival at StelaRose Hotel in the New GRA area of Makurdi, accompanied by the NUJ chairman, the Speaker confronted him and issued further threats, saying, “This is Makurdi, my turf, I will deal with you. Beat him up. Beat him up. Nonsense!”
The correspondent stated his explanation that his presence at the event was in line with his professional responsibility to report on matters of public interest was rebuffed by Berger and his associates, who physically assaulted him and used derogatory words against him.
He stated that the situation was eventually calmed following the intervention of Terhemen Tarzoo.
As of the time of this report, there had been no official public response from the Speaker regarding the allegations.
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