The reinstatement of the 21 local government council chairmen by an Abuja appellate court may have boost the chances of the incumbent governor of Kogi state, Captain Idris Wada who is seeking second term in office.
The sack order by a Koton -karfe High Court came as surprise, leaving political pundits to ponder as to why the state government has allowed this to happen at a crucial period of preparation for governorship election in Kogi in particular and Nigeria in general.
But the council chairmen however took their destiny in their own hands and appealed the judgment of Koton Karfe High Court at Court of Appeal, following inability of the state government to appeal the judgment sacking the 21 councils chairmen in the state.
The All Progressive Congress, APC had dragged Kogi state government to court alleging that Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission, KOSIEC was wrongly constituted by bringing on board card- carrying members of the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
In a judgment delivered at Koton Karfe High Court by Justice Alaba Omolaye Ajileye, the court ruled that the composition of the KOSIEC was null, void and inconsistent with section 100(1) of Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended) and as such the composition of KOSIEC was not recognised by law It was on the basis of non- existence of the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission legally that subsequently 0led to the sack of the 21 local government chairmen in the state
The trial Judge Justice Ajileye noted among others that Section 200(1) of 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended forms the fulcrum of the case, stressing that the case of claimant is that KOSIEC was not properly composed in accordance with 1999 Constitution as amended.
Be that as it may, the Abuja Appeal Court has however put smile in their faces as it gave consequential order to state government to immediately reinstate the 21 council chairmen and all the councillors who have been replaced by the 3 Senior Advisers in all the 21 local governments.
The Chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, Kogi State chapter, Aloysius Okino has commended the judiciary for living up to their responsibility, stressing that it has continue to remain the last hope of the common man.
Okino who was reacting to the Appeal Court judgment Abuja division which reinstated all the 21 council chairmen in Kogi state, which were removed last year by the state government, on the strength of a high court judgment.
He also commended the resilience of the 21 council chairmen and the PDP leadership for having faith in the laws of the land, saying that their victory is a boost to the PDP in the state.
The Appeal Court in Abuja has ordered the immediate reinstatement of the 21 Local government chairmen While delivering his judgment, Justice Mustapha Muhammed of Court of Appeal Abuja declared that the dissolution of the elected council Chairmen was not only illegal but unconstitutional and unlawful.
The appellant court held that the State Independent Electoral commission, SIEC which conducted the said election which brought the chairmen to office was properly constituted. The court also held that since the council chairmen were not party to the suit there is no how the judgment could have affected them.
The Appellant court also held that the lower court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case since the case was not instituted within three months as required by law, and therefore set aside the judgment of the lower court and ordered that the chairmen be reinstated with immediate effect.
However, opinion are divided as to whether the state government will reinstate the Council chairmen in 21 local government councils in the state or not because of the present special arrangement by the government who had earlier appointed Senior Special Advisers I,II and III to over look the affairs of 21 local government areas after being sacked by High Court.
A Chieftain of ruling Peoples Democratic Party who preferred anonymity stated that Captain Idris Wada is a law abiding governor who will be willing to obey the rule of law.
According to him, the governor is still studying the judgment. At appropriate time the governor will ordered the Local government Chairmen and 239 councillors back to office.
Meanwhile, the newly reinstated chairmen of the 21 Local Government Areas in Kogi state, who were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, have restated their commitment to work very hard for the re-election of Captain Idris Wada for another term of four years.
In a chat with Journalists during the PDP campaign rally in Okpo the headquarters of Olamoboro Local Government Area, the chairman of Ajaokuta, and chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria in Kogi state chapter, Mr. Aloysius Okino stated that the governor has performed well in his first term to deserve a second time.
“The governor has been able to lay a very solid foundation for the steady growth of the state, saying, that a second term will enable him to consolidate on the gains of his first term”, he stressed.
The ALGON boss noted it takes a man of honour, Integrity and vision to consider the completion of the projects initiated by his predecessor, saying that such an action has saved the state billions of naira which would have wasted if the projects are abandoned.
He listed some of the projects of the governor to include, rural electrification and water, projects across the state, the ongoing road projects in the state capital and all other rural feeder roads across the state, the establishment of the college of Medicine Anyigba among others.
He stressed that as a governor who is building for the future, the ongoing works at the Kogi house Abuja and the remodeling of the Kogi hotels when completed will improve the internally generated revenue of the state.
Okino called on their teeming supporters across the state to keep faith with the administration of Capt. Idris Wada, noting that the steps taking so far by him is an indication of a man that is focus and determined to create a better future for the people.
He urged the electorates to shun any divisive tendencies and vote massively for the governor to ensure sustainable growth of the state.
Source told National Mirror that despite the reinstatement by the appellate Court, some of the Council bosses may not work for the governor’s bid to return to Lugard House come November 2015 governorship election.
One of the reinstated Local government bosses and Chairman of Idah Local council, Dr. Mutalib Major led several groups, individuals and serving secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party to defect to All Progressive Congress, APC at a well attended campaign rally in Idah last Sunday.
Dr. Major who spoke on behalf thousands of PDP defectors to APC stated that the people of Idah local government should expect a major change under APC.
At lest over 20 interest groups and several thousands of supporters of Peoples Democratic Party have dumped the party and defected to APC ahead of November 21st, 2015 governorship election in the state.
While receiving the PDP defectors in Idah yesterday, the APC governorship candidate, Price Abubarka Audu assured the people of Idah that the APC government will be fair to the defectors. Audu stated that all the township roads are in bad shape, noting that if voted to power in November 21st gubernatorial election in the state.
He urged the people of the area to vote en masse for the APC candidate in the Governorship election come November 21. He state that a vote for APC is a vote for change in Kogi state, stating that the mandate of the people will transform the state .
Speaking further the Chairman of Idah Local government Area of the state who was reinstated by the Court, said that he and other several members of PDP have dumped PDP because lack of internal democracy.
Dr. Major stated that the people of the area should expect major in the local government area, adding that they will work for APC and deliver hundred percent for Audu come November 21st gubernatorial election in the state.
