Since the inception of democracy in Nigeria in 1999, the country has witnessed several impeachments of state governors.
Impeachment is a process used by the legislature to hold the executive accountable and ensure that they do not exceed their constitutional powers.
This process serves as a crucial check and balance in Nigeria’s political system. In this article, we will explore the list of impeached Nigerian state governors, highlighting the reasons behind their impeachments and the subsequent outcomes.
1. Alhaji Balarabe Musa (1981)
Balarabe Musa, the first executive governor of Kaduna State, was impeached by the NPN-dominated House of Assembly.
He was removed from office because he refused to include NPN members in his nomination list of commissioners, which the state House of Assembly rejected.
2. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha (2005)
Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, the former governor of Bayelsa State, was impeached by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly for allegations of corruption, theft of public funds, abuse of office, and money laundering.
He was the first governor to be impeached in Nigeria’s fourth republic.
3. Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja (2006)
On January 12, 2006, Rashidi Ladoja was impeached as the Governor of Oyo State by 18 Oyo State House of Assembly lawmakers who had allegedly collected bribes.
He challenged his impeachment, and the Appeal Court in Ibadan reinstated him on November 1, 2006, declaring the process of his impeachment null and void.
4. Ayo Fayose (2006)
Ayo Fayose, the former governor of Ekiti State, was impeached on October 16, 2006, by the Ekiti State House of Assembly. He was accused of mismanaging state resources, abuse of office, and throwing the state into crisis and lawlessness.
However, the Supreme Court ruled that the impeachment process was invalid, and Fayose was reinstated by Nigeria’s apex court on February 9, 2007.
5. Joshua Dariye (2006)
Joshua Dariye, the former governor of Plateau State, was impeached by eight out of 24 members of the Plateau State House of Assembly in October 2006. The impeachment notice was issued against him on suspicion of corruption.
However, the Supreme Court later ruled that the impeachment was invalid, and Dariye returned to office in April 2007. He was later convicted of corruption and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
6. Peter Obi (2006)
Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, faced impeachment by the Anambra House of Assembly for refusing to inflate the state budget.
He challenged the impeachment and was reinstated by Nigeria’s apex court on February 9, 2007. Obi later faced political controversies, but he was not impeached again during his tenure as governor.
It’s important to note that this list may not be exhaustive, as there may have been other impeachments that occurred before 1999 or after the information provided.
