By joshua 4-Year Tenure For Kogi LG Councils In Sight As Court Begins Hearing
Hope has risen for a four-year tenure for Local Government Chairmen and Councillors in Kogi State as legal proceedings to compel compliance with the 1999 Constitution as amended has reached an advanced stage.
This followed a suit instituted by a former Councillor in Okehi Local Government Council challenging his removal after two years in office.
The Councillor argued that his sack by the state government after two years was null and void, and runs contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended and the Electoral Act 2026.
The matter came up on Monday at the Kogi State High Court, Koton-Karfe, presided over by Justice Aminu Eri, who admitted preliminary applications, motions and affidavits filed by parties.
The claimant’s legal team was led by J.A. Akubo, SAN, alongside T.U. Odoma, S.S. Udaa and A.O. Apeh, while the state was represented by Dr. Zakari, O.O. Adegboyega and V.A. Shaibu.
After adopting preliminary submissions, Justice Eri adjourned the matter to Wednesday, 7th October, 2026 for ruling.
Speaking with Newsmen on the sidelines of the court session, lead counsel to the claimant, J.A. Akubo, SAN, disclosed that his client filed the suit against the Kogi State Government, the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) and the Kogi State House of Assembly to challenge the legality of Section 50 of the Local Government Law 2023 and Sections 25 and 26 of the Kogi State Local Government Law as amended in 2025.
According to him, the said laws provide for two-year and three-year tenures, which violate Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“The contention of my client is that the two or three-year tenure provided by the state laws is inconsistent with the Constitution. It should be extended to four years in line with the Electoral Act 2026, which provides for a four-year tenure for FCT Area Councils, and stipulates that the procedure for Local Government Councils should be the same as other tiers,” Akubo stated.
He hinged his argument on Sections 112 and 253 of the Electoral Act 2026, which he said are applicable by virtue of Section 7 of the Constitution.
The Senior Advocate noted that a similar suit filed in Plateau State was decided in favour of the claimant, leading to the extension of tenure to four years.
“This is not the first time. It has been tested and achieved in Plateau State with similar facts as ours,” he said.
Akubo added that at Monday’s sitting, both parties filed motions, applications and counter-affidavits, though the respondents filed out of time.
“Today, the respondents filed motions and affidavits even when they were served long ago but failed to respond. Their counter-affidavits were filed out of time but were taken and granted by the court, which adjourned to Wednesday for hearing and ruling, and subsequently for judgement,” he said.
Expressing confidence, the learned silk said he was ready to cross the bridge when he gets there, and assured the people of Kogi State that justice would be served in the best interest of the public.
He added that the court has promised accelerated hearing of the suit, hopefully before the Local Government election scheduled for 16th October, 2026.