The Cross River State House of Assembly has removed Theresa Ushie, the Chairman of Bekwarra Local Government Council, following allegations of gross misconduct. This action comes after the House adopted a report from the Committee on Judiciary and Public Petitions.
The issues leading to Ushie’s removal date back to June 10, 2025, when eight councillors of the Bekwarra Legislative Council filed a petition accusing her of corruption, abuse of power, and the unjustified stoppage of councillors’ salaries. Following the petition, Ushie was suspended for 90 days, and the Vice Chairman, Egbung Odama, assumed her duties in an acting capacity while the committee conducted its investigation.
During a plenary session in Calabar, 19 out of 25 lawmakers voted in favor of the committee’s recommendations, confirming Ushie’s dismissal after several months of inquiry. The committee’s findings demonstrated that the allegations against her were substantiated through stakeholder engagements.
Speaker of the House, Elvert Ayambem, reiterated the legislature’s commitment to transparency and good governance, stating, “This House will always defend transparency and uphold the law.” The lawmakers have now tasked the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) to conduct a bye-election within 30 days to fill the vacancy.
