C’River Assembly Sacks Bekwarra LG Chairman Over Misconduct Allegations
The Cross River State House of Assembly has removed the Chairman of Bekwarra Local Government Council, Theresa Ushie, after Lawmakers upheld findings that she engaged in gross misconduct.
The decision was reached on Wednesday during plenary in Calabar, where 19 of the 25 lawmakers voted in favour of the recommendations of the House Committee on Judiciary and Public Petitions.
Trouble began on June 10, 2025, when the Assembly received a petition from eight Councillors of the Bekwarra Legislative Council accusing Ushie of corruption, abuse of office, unlawful stoppage of Councillors’ salaries and violations of due process in Council Administration.
In response, the Assembly suspended her for 90 days and directed the Vice Chairman, Egbung Odama, to step in as Acting Chairman while the committee conducted a full-scale investigation.
Presenting its report on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, the Committee Chairman disclosed that the allegations originally contained in a petition dated May 19, 2025, were verified during engagements with stakeholders in Abuochiche, including the petitioners, Ushie and members of the community.
“After reviewing evidence and hearing from all parties, the Committee found the allegations weighty, credible and fully established,” the Chairman said. “The conduct of the Chairman fell below expectations, and testimonies from our visit reinforced the concerns raised.”
Following the adoption of 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 ensure smooth Governance at the Council.
Speaker Elvert Ayambem reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to accountability, saying, “This House will always defend transparency and uphold the law in the interest of the people of Cross River State.”
Efforts to reach Ushie for comments were unsuccessful, as her phone lines were unreachable.
