The Special Adviser to the Kogi State Governor on Grassroots Mobilisation, Hon. Enejoh Sani, has commended the judiciary for its judgment dismissing a suit challenging the tenure provisions for Local Government officials in the state, describing the decision as a victory for justice and an opportunity for the state to move forward with its plans for the people.
Hon. Sani also congratulated the Kogi State Government on the court victory, expressing optimism that the judgment would allow the state to focus on its development priorities and the implementation of programmes aimed at improving the welfare of its citizens.
The Koton-Karfe High Court, presided over by Justice Aminu Eri, dismissed the suit for lacking merit, holding that the claimant failed to establish any inconsistency between the Kogi State Electoral Law, the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
The suit was instituted by a former councillor in Ibaji Local Government Council who challenged his removal after serving two years in office. The claimant had sought an interpretation of Section 50 of the Kogi State Local Government Law 2023 and Sections 25 and 26 of the Local Government Law, as amended in 2025.
The claimant, through his legal team led by J.A. Akubo, SAN, argued that the two-year and three-year tenure provisions under the state laws were inconsistent with the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2026, which provides for a four-year tenure for Federal Capital Territory Area Councils.
However, the defendants, comprising the Kogi State Government, the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) and the Kogi State House of Assembly, maintained that the relevant constitutional provisions empower the State House of Assembly to legislate on matters relating to Local Government elections and tenure.
In his judgment, Justice Eri held that the Constitution does not expressly prescribe the tenure of Local Government Chairmen, Vice Chairmen and Councillors, noting that the authority to legislate on the matter rests with the State House of Assembly.
The court consequently dismissed the suit, ruling that the claimant had failed to establish the alleged inconsistency between the relevant state laws and the cited federal legal provisions.
Reacting to the judgment, Hon. Enejoh Sani said justice had prevailed, stressing the need for the state to move beyond the legal dispute and concentrate on its plans and development agenda for the people.
His remarks underscored the importance of respecting judicial decisions and allowing constitutional questions to be resolved through established legal processes, while providing room for government institutions to focus on their respective responsibilities.
Meanwhile, counsel to the Kogi State House of Assembly, S.A. Abbas, and Dr. Abdulwahab Zakari, welcomed the judgment, saying it upheld the legislative authority of the State House of Assembly on matters relating to the tenure of Local Government Chairmen, Vice Chairmen and Councillors.
Counsel to the claimant indicated that the legal team would study the judgment, acknowledging its implications for the relationship between the Kogi State laws, the Electoral Act and the Constitution.
The judgment marks the conclusion of the suit at the Koton-Karfe High Court and brings renewed attention to the legal framework governing Local Government administration in Kogi State.
