Impeached Governors in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic

Before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Nma Odu, and state lawmakers over the ongoing political crisis, there were already moves to impeach Fubara.

Had he been impeached, Fubara would have joined a list of Nigerian governors removed from office since the country’s return to democracy in 1999. Below is a list of impeached governors and the circumstances surrounding their removal:

1. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha (Bayelsa State, 2005)

Alamieyeseigha was Bayelsa’s first civilian governor in the Fourth Republic, elected in 1999 and reelected in 2003. However, in 2005, he was impeached over allegations of corruption, including theft of public funds and money laundering. Two years later, he pleaded guilty to six charges and was sentenced to prison.

2. Rashidi Ladoja (Oyo State, 2006)

Ladoja governed Oyo State from 2003 until January 2006, when state lawmakers impeached him. Christopher Alao-Akala was sworn in as his replacement. However, Ladoja was reinstated in December 2006 after a court ruling nullified his removal. He later claimed his impeachment was due to his opposition to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s third-term bid.

3. Ayo Fayose (Ekiti State, 2006)

Fayose, elected in 2003, was impeached in 2006 alongside his deputy, Biodun Olujimi, over allegations of corruption, including embezzling funds meant for the state’s poultry project. Twenty-four out of 26 lawmakers voted for their removal. Although Fayose fled at the time, he later returned and contested again. The Supreme Court eventually ruled that his impeachment was unlawful.

4. Peter Obi (Anambra State, 2006)

Peter Obi, who later became the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023, was impeached just six months into his tenure as Anambra governor. He claimed he was removed for refusing to inflate the state budget. He challenged his impeachment in court and won, returning to office in February 2007.

5. Joshua Dariye (Plateau State, 2006)

Dariye faced impeachment proceedings in October 2006 after being linked to money laundering. Only eight out of 24 lawmakers initially issued an impeachment notice, which he contested. However, the following month, he was removed, and his deputy, Michael Botmang, took over. The Supreme Court later reinstated him, but his tenure ended in 2007. That same year, the EFCC accused him of diverting N1 billion in state ecological funds.

6. Murtala Nyako (Adamawa State, 2014)

Nyako was removed in 2014 over allegations of misappropriating N17 billion, illegal salary deductions, and misusing local government funds. He and his deputy, Bala Ngilari, received impeachment notices in June 2014, and a month later, he was removed from office. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, the state’s house speaker at the time, was sworn in as acting governor.

These impeachments highlight the political turbulence that has shaped Nigeria’s democratic governance over the years.