The Cross River State House of Assembly has removed the Chairman of Bekwarra Local Government Council, Theresa Ushie, following confirmed allegations of gross misconduct.
Her removal came after lawmakers adopted the report of the House Committee on Judiciary and Public Petitions during plenary on Wednesday in Calabar. Nineteen out of the 25 members voted in favour of the committee’s recommendations, formally ending Ushie’s tenure after months of investigation.
The case dates back to June 10, 2025, when the Assembly received a petition signed by eight councillors of the Bekwarra Legislative Council. The petition accused Ushie of corruption, abuse of office, arbitrary stoppage of councillors’ salaries, and repeated violations of due process.
Acting on the petition, the Assembly suspended Ushie for 90 days and directed the Vice Chairman, Egbung Odama, to take over in an acting capacity pending a full-scale investigation.
Presenting its findings, the committee chairman said all allegations contained in the May 19, 2025 petition were substantiated during engagements with stakeholders in Abuochiche. These included sessions with the petitioning councillors, the suspended chairman, and various community representatives.
“After meeting with all parties and reviewing the evidence, the Committee found the allegations weighty and clearly established,” he stated. “The conduct of the chairman fell short of the expectations of her office, and testimonies during our visit reinforced the concerns raised.”
Adopting the report, the Assembly resolved that Ushie be removed from office for gross misconduct. Lawmakers also directed the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) to conduct a bye-election within 30 days to fill the vacant position and restore normalcy to the council.
Speaker of the House, Elvert Ayambem, reaffirmed the commitment of the legislature to accountability and transparent governance.
“This House will always defend transparency and uphold the law. Our duty guides our actions to the people of Cross River State,” he said.
Attempts to reach Ushie for comments were unsuccessful, as her phone lines remained unreachable.
