By Admin
The 7th Legislative Assembly of Yala Local Government Area, in Cross River State, has suspended its Leader, Hon. Mary Eje, following a unanimous vote of no confidence passed during a plenary session held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
The suspension, which takes immediate effect, was endorsed by thirteen councilors who signed a formal resolution citing gross ineptitude, incompetence, and a lack of legislative leadership capacity as the basis for the action.
According to the resolution, Hon. Eje failed in her core responsibilities, particularly in addressing the persistent disregard of the Legislative Assembly by key members of the executive arm. Most notably, the Director of Finance and Supply (DFS) reportedly refused four separate invitations to appear before the House and account for the council’s income and expenditure from November 2024 to date.
The councilors alleged that Hon. Eje did not take appropriate action, including invoking provisions under Section 42(1b) and (2) of the Cross River State Local Government Law, which empowers the Assembly to issue a warrant of arrest in such cases.
“The Leader’s lukewarm approach and failure to uphold the integrity of this Assembly have severely undermined our legislative mandate,” the resolution stated.
In addition, the Assembly accused the suspended leader of withholding vital information from council members, aiding the executive in frustrating legislative oversight, and contributing to the ridicule and humiliation of the legislative arm in the eyes of the public. Other allegations include non-implementation of House motions, poor handling of legislative business, and alleged attempts to impose personal authority over fellow councilors.
“The leadership of the parliament is a function of collective trust and representation,” the resolution read. “No member is superior to another, and any attempt to lord over others is contrary to the spirit of legislative equality.”
Citing Order 2.7 of the Uniform Standing Orders, the Assembly announced that the Deputy Leader would assume leadership responsibilities for the duration of Hon. Eje’s three-month suspension.
This development is the latest in a series of internal disputes that highlight the growing rift between the legislative and executive arms of local governance in Yala, with broader implications for governance standards across the state.
As of press time, Hon. Mary Eje has not issued an official response to the Assembly’s action.
