The Cross River State House of Assembly has officially removed the Chairman of Bekwarra Local Government Council, Theresa Ushie, from office following substantiated allegations of gross misconduct.
The decision was ratified during Wednesday’s plenary in Calabar, where the House adopted the comprehensive report submitted by its Committee on Judiciary and Public Petitions.
Allegations and Investigation
The action stems from a petition dated May 19, 2025, received by the Assembly on June 10, 2025. The petition was filed by eight councillors of the Bekwarra Legislative Council, accusing the suspended boss of severe violations, including:
* Corruption
* Abuse of office
* Arbitrary stoppage of councillors’ salaries
* Violation of due process in the administration of the council.
Following receipt of the petition, the Assembly had immediately suspended Ushie for 90 days and directed the Vice Chairman, Egbung Odama, to assume office in an acting capacity while the Committee conducted a full-scale investigation.
Removal Ratified by Vote
Presenting its findings on Wednesday, the Chairman of the Committee disclosed that the allegations were clearly established during engagements with stakeholders in Abuochiche, including the petitioners, the suspended chairman, and community members.
“After meeting with all parties and reviewing evidence, the Committee found the allegations weighty and clearly established,” the Chairman said. “The conduct of the chairman fell below the expectations of her office, and the testimonies received during our visit to Bekwarra reinforced the concerns raised.”
The subsequent vote sealed Ushie’s fate, with 19 out of 25 lawmakers voting in favour of the Committee’s recommendations to remove her for gross misconduct.
Call for By-Election
Following the adoption of the report, the lawmakers further directed the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) to conduct a bye-election within 30 days to fill the newly vacant position and restore normalcy to the local government council.
Speaker of the House, Elvert Ayambem, reaffirmed the legislature’s commitment to probity, transparency, and good governance.
“This House will always defend transparency and uphold the law. Our duty guides our actions to the people of Cross River State,” the Speaker stated.
Efforts to contact the removed Chairman, Theresa Ushie, for comments proved unsuccessful as her phone lines were unreachable.
