Kogi State court upholds local government tenure provisions

The Koton-Karfe High Court, presided over by Justice Aminu Eri, has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the tenure provisions for local government officials in Kogi State. The court ruled that the claimant failed to demonstrate any inconsistency between the Kogi State Electoral Law, the Electoral Act, and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The legal challenge was initiated by a former councillor from the Ibaji Local Government Council following his removal after two years in office. The claimant argued that the two-year and three-year tenure provisions established by state law were inconsistent with the four-year tenure provided for Federal Capital Territory Area Councils under the Electoral Act 2026.

In response, the Kogi State Government, the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), and the Kogi State House of Assembly maintained that the Constitution empowers the State House of Assembly to legislate on matters regarding local government elections and tenure. Hon. Enejoh Sani, Special Adviser to the Kogi State Governor on Grassroots Mobilisation, commended the judiciary's decision, describing it as a victory for justice.