Calabar, Nigeria – June 11, 2025 – The Cross River State House of Assembly has suspended the Chairman of Obubra Local Government Area, Hon. Bassey Agbor, for a period of three months, following allegations of administrative misconduct and insubordination.
The suspension, which was announced during plenary on Tuesday, came after a motion was moved by the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. Lawmakers cited the need to maintain accountability, transparency, and discipline within the third tier of government.
According to the Assembly, the chairman was found to have flouted several directives issued by the state legislature and was accused of sidelining council stakeholders in decision-making processes, particularly on budgetary matters and the management of public funds.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, stated that the decision was not taken lightly but was necessary to safeguard the integrity of local governance in the state.
“This Assembly will not tolerate a breakdown of procedure or abuse of office. Public trust must not be taken for granted. We have a constitutional responsibility to ensure that local government officials operate within the bounds of the law,” the Speaker said.
The House directed the suspended chairman to hand over to the Vice Chairman of Obubra LGA, who is to act in his capacity pending the outcome of an investigative panel constituted to probe the allegations.
The development has sparked mixed reactions among residents, with some community leaders applauding the Assembly’s move as a sign of growing democratic accountability, while others have called for a fair and unbiased investigation.
This is not the first time the Cross River State Assembly is intervening in local government affairs, as it has previously suspended council officials found wanting on grounds of mismanagement or abuse of office.
The panel’s findings are expected to be submitted within the next 60 days, after which the Assembly will decide whether to reinstate or remove the chairman permanently.