Court Upholds Kogi’s Two, Three-Year LG Tenures

The High Court sitting in Koton-Karfe has dismissed a constitutional challenge against provisions governing local government tenure in Kogi State.

The claimant, a former councillor in Ibaji Local Government Council, challenged provisions providing two- and three-year tenures and argued that they conflicted with the Constitution.

He relied partly on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 prescribing four-year terms for elected officials of FCT Area Councils.

Justice Aminu Eri, however, held that provisions governing FCT Area Councils could not automatically be applied to local governments in Kogi State.

The court found that the Constitution does not expressly prescribe a fixed tenure for local government chairmen, vice chairmen and councillors across states.

Justice Eri consequently held that the Kogi State House of Assembly possesses legislative authority over tenure arrangements for local government officials within the state.

The suit was dismissed for lacking merit. Counsel for the claimant indicated that the legal team would study the judgment.