Bekwarra, Cross River – The Legislative arm of Bekwarra Council, in a unanimous resolution today, 20th March 2025, announced the impeachment of the chairman of the Council, Hon. Theresa Akwaji Ushie.
According to a statement released by the Council Leader, Hon. Thompson Inah Adie, shortly after their sitting in Abuochiche, the Chairman was impeached based on allegations of Gross Misconduct and Abuse of Public Office levelled against her.
The Chairman was also alleged by the councillors to be stifling the development of Bekwarra Council and thereby compromising the development agenda of the Peoples First Mantra of the administration of Governor Bassey Otu.
The Leader of the House said the Councillors also considered the high level of maladministration, high-handedness and serious retrogression leading to the misappropriation of public funds by the Chairman.
The offences include:
1. Secrecy: No revenue updates have been shared with councillors since inauguration
2. Lack of Transparency: Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) processes are opaque, bypassing legislative oversight. Opening of various checkpoints in which huge monies are collected without any mention to the councillors on the proceeds
3. Unilateral Projects: To mark One hundred (100) days in office, some roads were hurriedly graded and a few boreholes were drilled without councillors’ or stakeholders’ input, sparking allegations of personal interests and real areas were not touched
4. Communication Breakdown: No single meeting between the executive and legislative arms since after inauguration till date.
5. Harassment, Abuse and Isolation: In the process of attempting or creating synergy with the chairman, the leader of the council has faced harassment by the chairman and her brothers at some point, the Leader’s phone number was barred or blacklisted for two (2) months.
6. Physical Confrontations: Councilors have been physically intimidated and assaulted by the Chairman’s brothers, particularly ” Bouncer” Public assault on councillors by herself or brothers has become a normal thing either in public or private
7. Banking Favoritism: Compulsory/forceful opening of accounts with a bank without a branch in Cross River State (TAJ BANK); our salaries are paid to the said accounts, to which we have no access.
8. Christmas Palliatives 1,200 bags: Only 40 bags of rice were distributed per ward in Bekwara LGA, as against 120 bags allocated from the state. Also, Councilors were given just one (1)bag of rice with zero (0) Naira, only a loan offered by the Chairman to celebrate Christmas in Bekwara. Other local governments in Cross River North distributed more than a hundred (100) bags of rice per ward and also gave their councillors monies for celebrating. Why is Bekwara LGA different?
9. Inadequate Facilities: Councilors lack proper offices and chambers to function, letters were written to the chairman but no single response
10. Reconciliation Snubbed: The chairman refused to attend a reconciliation meeting held by stakeholders, sparking further tensions. It should be noteworthy here that Ada Bekwara II painstakingly invited 10 councillors, the chapter chairman and some stakeholders twice and twice the chairman ignored abuses
11. Lack of Concern On Loss or Demise of Our Party Faithful: She always refers any issue of bereavement or loss of a party member to the party and that it is not her responsibility
The impeachment notice in accordance with the provisions of the Cross River State Local Government Law (Part 11, Section 12, Subsection (1) and (2) was duly signed by Nine (9) out of the Ten (10) councillors representing the 10 wards of Bekwarra Council which include Hon. Thompson Inah Adie, Leader of Council representing Ukpah Ward, Hon. Ejugu Godwin Odey of Gakem Ward (Deputy Leader), Hon. Okaba Phillip Ogar of Abuochiche Ward, (Majority Leader), Hon. Inah Patrick Odey of Ugboro Ward (Chief Whip), Hon. Ugan Angela Akpana of Nyanya Ward (Deputy Majority Leader), Hon. Jonathan Ekpang N, of Okpeche Ward, Hon. Acha Michael Oko, of Otukpuru Ward, Hon. Ekunke Theresa Uke of Ibiaragidi Ward, and Hon. Ogar Joseph Ede, Ochagbe Ward.
According to Adie, a copy of the impeachment letter was copied to His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, Acting Governor, CRS APC Chapter Chairman, Alphonsus Ogar, Esq., Bekwarra APC Chapter Chairman, Odama Thomas Odama, Member representing Bekwarra State Constituency, Hon. Omang Charles Omang, and the ousted Chairman, Hon. Theresa Akwaji Ushie.
“By the impeachment, Hon Ushie ceases to be the chairman of Bekwarra Council Area,” the Council Leader, declared.
It will be recalled that the embattled Chairman and the Councillors have been embroiled in accusations and counter-accusations in the past few months.
Efforts to reach the embattled Chairman for her reaction to the impeachment proved abortive at the time of filing this report. However, we’ll bring her reactions to the press whenever we get one.
WATCH VIDEO OF THE IMPEACHMENT BELOW
