In 14 years, at least 24 states have impeached their assembly speakers

Between 2011 and 2025, during the years Nigeria returned to a democratic system of governance since 1999, at least 24 state assemblies have impeached the House of Assembly speaker from his seat. According to several news reports analysed by Ripples Metrics, Lagos State recently joined the long list of states that reported impeachment.

On January 13, the Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, who has served as Speaker since his appointment in 2015, was impeached by the lawmakers during the plenary session in Alausa, Ikeja. 32 members of the House voted to impeach him over allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office.

The speaker was replaced by Mojisola Meranda who made history by becoming the first elected female Lagos Speaker. However, she also joins the list of five states that have had female speakers lead the House since 1999. These states are Benue, Anambra, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo and Ekiti. In Anambra, a female speaker led the House in three different years.

The impeachment, although the first reported in 2025, is coming eight months after the former Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Elvert Anyambem, was impeached by the lawmakers over multiple infractions, including gross financial misconduct and violations of the Cross River State Legislature Funds Management Laws of 2021.

Aside from Lagos and Cross River, other states that have documented impeachments are Ogun, Zamfara, Rivers, Gombe, Benue, Ebonyi, Anambra, Borno, Plateau, Niger, Edo, Delta, Ekiti, Imo, Kastina, Ondo, Jigawa, Taraba, Kebbi, Kano, Bayelsa and Abia.

The trend over 26 years

2024: Last year, states like Cross River and Ogun reported impeachment in their House of Assemblies. 18 out of 26 members of the House impeached Speaker Olakunle Oluomo over allegations of gross misconduct, financial misappropriation, and other offences in Ogun State. This came after the impeached Speaker was arraigned in September 2022 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 11 charges, including conspiracy, forgery, theft, and money laundering.

Also, in February, Bilyaminu Moriki, the speaker of the Zamfara State assembly was impeached following a vote of no confidence by 18 out of 24 members.

2023: The Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Chinedum Orji, was impeached in May after 18 out of 24 members endorsed his removal. Similarly, in Rivers State, eight members of the State Assembly impeached Speaker Martins Amaewhule and his deputy, Dumle Maol. Edison Ehie, who had previously been removed as the House Leader, was appointed as the new Speaker.

2022: 17 out of 25 members of the assembly signed the impeachment of Gboyega Aribisogan, as the speaker of the house in Ekiti state.

2021: 19 out of 27 members of the Imo State Assembly impeached Speaker Paul Emeziem. Similarly, in October of the same year, 16 out of 24 members of the Plateau State House of Assembly removed Speaker Abok Ayuba after ongoing conflicts with former Governor Simon Lalong. In Kebbi State, 20 out of 24 members of the Assembly impeached Speaker Isma’il Kamb and his deputy, Muhammadu Aliyu.

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2020: in October 2020, the assembly of Edo State impeached its speaker Frank Okiye and elected Marcus Onobun as his replacement. The Gombe State House of Assembly, in November 2020, impeached its speaker, Abubakar Ibrahim, while Abubakar Luggerewo emerged as the new speaker.

2019: In September 2019, Emmanuel Tonye Isenah was removed as Speaker of the Bayelsa House of Assembly after gunshots were fired in the Assembly complex. In Jigawa, lawmakers removed Isa Idris as Speaker in May 2019 and re-elected Idris Garba to the position.

2018: In July 2018, Abdullahi Atta was impeached as Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, with 27 lawmakers signing an impeachment notice accusing him of incompetence, corruption, and poor collaboration with other members. In October 2018, Kola Oluwawole and his deputy, Sina Animaun, were removed from their positions by 14 members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly. That same year, the Benue State House of Assembly elected Titus Uba as its new Speaker.

In November 2018, Rita Maduagwu, Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, was impeached by 22 out of 30 members. Similarly, in Ondo State, Speaker Bamidele Oloyelogun and his deputy, Oladeji Iroju, were impeached in November 2018 by 18 out of 26 lawmakers on grounds of gross misconduct.

2017: In January 2017, the Jigawa State House of Assembly removed Speaker Idris Garba, citing allegations of high-handedness and abuse of power. In May 2017, Delta State Speaker Monday Igbuya was impeached after 22 lawmakers passed a vote of no confidence against him. That same year, the Katsina State House of Assembly impeached its Speaker, Aliyu Sabiu Muduru.

2016: In 2016, Victor Edoro was ousted by 16 of the 24 members of the assembly for alleged high-handedness, dictatorial tendencies and financial recklessness in Edo state.

2015: In May 2015, Adamu Usman, Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, was impeached by 18 out of 27 members. Similarly, the Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Hassan Shalla, was impeached by 12 out of 24 members over allegations of breach of trust and embezzlement of his colleagues’ allowances.

2014: In July 2014, Chukwuma Nwazunku was impeached as Speaker of the Ebonyi State Assembly by a two-thirds majority of members due to allegations of incompetence, gross misconduct, embezzlement, and misappropriation of public funds. In the same year, Josiah Sabo Kente was ‘forced’ to resign as Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly.

2013: the Taraba State House of Assembly members reportedly impeached the speaker, Istifanus Gbana, by 17 out of 24 members.

2012: In February, the Borno State House of Assembly impeached its speaker, Goni Ali Modu, for allegedly being submissive to the state government.

2011: In December, the Kano State House of Assembly impeached its speaker, Yusuf Falgore, and elected Gambo Sallau to replace him.

By: James Odunayo

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