In an effort to preserve the historical record, Sooth News is providing a translation of the BBC Hausa report from January 10, detailing the seven landmark impeachments that have shaped our democratic history.
Rivers Assembly Revives Impeachment Plot Against Fubara
On Thursday, January 8, 2026, the Rivers State House of Assembly launched a fresh bid to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara, leveling a series of allegations regarding illegal conduct.
This latest move marks a dramatic collapse of the peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu, reigniting the high-stakes power struggle between Fubara and his predecessor, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
While impeachment is a rare and difficult constitutional hurdle in Nigeria, this third attempt has gripped the nation. It follows a turbulent 2025 where a similar standoff led President Tinubu to declare a six-month state of emergency in Rivers, suspending the governor and the legislature entirely. As the Assembly moves forward, the political future of the state once again hangs in a delicate balance.
Nigeria’s Impeachment History: A Legacy of Political Power Plays
Throughout Nigeria’s political history—stretching back to the First Republic—power struggles have been the norm. Yet, despite frequent attempts to remove state executives, successful impeachments remain remarkably rare. Recognizing this trend, the BBC has conducted an in-depth analysis of the few Nigerian governors who were actually ousted from office.
Balarabe Musa:
The First to Fall
Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, born August 21, 1936, was a titan of Second Republic politics who passed away on November 11, 2020.
Representing the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), he assumed the governorship of Kaduna State in October 1979.
However, on June 23, 1981, Musa made history for the wrong reasons: he became the first Nigerian governor ever to be impeached. His downfall was largely a numbers game; while he led the state, his PRP was a minority in a House of Assembly dominated by the rival National Party of Nigeria (NPN). Though he later sought to return to the governor’s lodge and remained a vocal political figure until his retirement in August 2018, his 1981 removal remains a landmark case in Nigerian governance.
Peter Ayodele Fayose:
The “Giant Killer” of Ekiti Politics
Born on November 15, 1960, Peter Ayodele Fayose is one of the most resilient and colorful figures in Nigeria’s democratic journey. Serving two separate terms as the Governor of Ekiti State (2003–2006 and 2014–2018), Fayose earned a reputation for achieving the unthinkable.
His first historic victory came in May 2003, when he unseated the incumbent, Niyi Adebayo.
However, his tenure was cut short on October 16, 2006, when he was removed from office via impeachment. Defying the odds, Fayose staged a dramatic comeback in 2014, defeating another incumbent, Kayode Fayemi. This feat made him a legendary figure in Nigerian politics—the only man to have defeated two sitting governors in open elections.
Peter Obi:
The Governor Who Fought Back and Won.
Peter Gregory Obi, the renowned 2023 presidential candidate born on July 19, 1961, holds a unique place in Nigeria’s judicial and political history. His tenure as Governor of Anambra State began on March 17, 2006, but was abruptly halted just months later when the State House of Assembly impeached him on November 2, 2006, over allegations of “gross misconduct.”
In a historic twist, his removal led to his deputy, Virginia Etiaba, becoming the first female governor in Nigerian history.
However, Obi refused to back down, launching a landmark legal battle. By February 9, 2007, the courts overturned his impeachment, reinstating him to office. Obi went on to complete his first term and secure a second, serving until March 2014 and cementing his reputation as a champion of the rule of law.
Joshua Dariye:
The Plateau State Governor Who Cycled Through Power and Prison
Born July 27, 1957, Joshua Chibi Dariye’s political career remains one of the most turbulent in Nigeria’s history.
His tenure as Plateau State Governor was a series of interruptions, spanning 1999 to 2004, a return in late 2004, and a final brief stint in 2007.
In 2006, Dariye famously dismissed an impeachment attempt by just eight of the 24 state lawmakers, arguing they were “too few” to unseat him.
However, on November 13, 2006, they succeeded. His deputy, Michael Botmang, took the reins until the judiciary intervened. Following a landmark Supreme Court ruling, Dariye was reinstated in April 2007 to complete his term.
His drama didn’t end at the Governor’s Lodge.
After serving as a two-term Senator, Dariye was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2018 for misappropriating ₦1.6 billion—a sentence later reduced to 10 years. In a final twist of fortune, he was granted a controversial presidential pardon in April 2022, alongside former Taraba Governor Jolly Nyame, cementing his legacy as a survivor of both political and judicial storms.
Ladoja:
From Government House to the Ancient Throne:
The Story of Oba Ladoja,
Oba Adewolu Ladoja isn’t just a leader; he’s a survivor. The former Governor and Senator has officially transitioned from the corridors of political power to the peak of traditional authority as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadan.
Elected Governor
in 2003, Ladoja famously fought a legal battle all the way to the Supreme Court to overturn an illegal impeachment, proving his mettle as a defender of democracy. After years of influential politics with the PDP and Accord Party, he began a new chapter on August 12, 2024.
Following the passing of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, Ladoja was crowned the sovereign ruler of Ibadan, blending modern political experience with timeless royal heritage.
D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha:
The Rise and Fall of the “Governor-General” Diepreye Solomon Peter “D.S.P.”
Alamieyeseigha (1952–2015) was a foundational figure in Niger Delta politics. As the first executive governor of Bayelsa State, he took office on May 29, 1999.
However, his second term was defined by a scandal that gripped the world: a high-stakes corruption probe that famously saw him attempt to evade British authorities by allegedly disguising himself as a woman to flee London.
The drama culminated on December 9, 2005, when the Bayelsa House of Assembly impeached him on charges of money laundering and bribery. After serving time in both UK and Nigerian custody, Alamieyeseigha was eventually granted a controversial state pardon by his former deputy and then-President, Goodluck Jonathan, on March 12, 2013. Even a decade after his passing, his legacy remains a complex chapter in Nigeria’s fight against corruption.
Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako:
A Legacy of Military and Civil Leadership
Born on August 27, 1942, Murtala Hamman-Yero Nyako is a distinguished former naval officer and two-term Governor of Adamawa State. His career spans the highest levels of military and political service, having served as the Military Governor of Niger State (1976–1977) and the Chief of Naval Staff (1990–1992).
Nyako transitioned to civil politics in 2007, winning the Adamawa governorship.
Despite a 2008 election annulment that saw a brief interim leadership under James Barka, Nyako reclaimed his mandate in a landslide re-election victory that same year. His second tenure faced a major hurdle in July 2014 when the State Assembly impeached him over 16 allegations of misconduct.
Although, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court eventually declared the impeachment null and void in 2016, the rulings did not restore him to office, marking a landmark chapter in Nigeria’s judicial and political history.
