The Cross River State House of Assembly has dismissed Theresa Ushie, chairman of Bekwarra Local Government Area, following allegations of gross misconduct. The decision came after the House adopted the report of its Committee on Judiciary and Public Petitions.
Eight councillors from Bekwarra had filed a petition on May 19, 2025, accusing Ushie of corruption, abuse of office, unlawful withholding of councillors’ salaries, and breach of due process. Acting on the petition, the Assembly suspended Ushie for 90 days on June 10, 2025, appointing vice-chairman Egbung Odama as acting chairman while a full investigation was conducted.
During a plenary session on Wednesday, 19 of the 25 lawmakers voted to accept the committee’s findings, which confirmed the allegations after meetings with the petitioners, Ushie, and community members in Abuochiche. The committee stated that the evidence was “weighty and clearly established” and that Ushie’s conduct fell short of the standards expected of her office.
As a result, Ushie was removed from office, and the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) has been instructed to organise a by-election within 30 days to fill the vacancy.
Speaker Elvert Ayambem reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to probity and good governance, emphasizing that the legislature would continue to defend transparency and uphold the law. Attempts to reach Ushie for comment were unsuccessful.
