Hope is rising for a four-year tenure for Local Government Council elected officials in Kogi State as a legal battle challenging the existing tenure provisions enters a critical stage.
The suit, filed by, Moses Chrity, a councillor with Ibaji Local Government Council, against kogi state Governor and 3 others seeking to invalidate provisions of Kogi State Local Government council law prescribing shorter tenures for elected local government officials, arguing that the law conflict with the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and relevant electoral legislations.
The matter came up on Monday, 5 October 2026 before the Kogi State High Court sitting in Koton Karfe, presided over by Justice Aminu Eri.
During, the proceeding , the Court granted each set of Defendants extension of time to file their responses to claimant suit pursuant to their Motion on Notice requesting for that. The Court also granted claimant Motion on Notice seeking for accelerated hearing of the suit in view of its urgent nature, even as the court admitted preliminary applications, motions and affidavits filed by both the claimant and the defendants before adjourning the matter to Wednesday, October 7, 2026, for ruling.
The claimant was represented by a legal team led by J.A. Akubo, SAN, alongside T.U. Odoma, S.S. Udaa and A.O. Apeh, while the defendantts s legal team included A.W. Zakari, O.O. Adegboyega and V.A. Shaibu.
Speaking after the proceedings, J.A. Akubo, SAN, said the claimant was challenging Section 50 of the Kogi State Local Government Law 2023 as well as Sections 25 and 26 of the Kogi State Local Government Law, 2025 as amended which, according to him, provide for two-year and three-year tenures.
Akubo argued that the provisions were inconsistent with the Constitution and relevant electoral laws, insisting that local government administration shall enjoy a uniform constitutional framework.
He noted that ” the claimant, Moses Christy an elected Councillor with Ibaji Local Government council of kogi state,filed this suit challenging the legality of Section 50 Local Government laws of 2023 and Section 25/26 of kogi state local government law as amended , The mentioned laws provide for two years tenure and three years tenure, as the contention of his client is in regard to Section 7 of 1999 constitution as amended and the Kogi state 2023 and 2025 Local Government council law as amended provide two and three years tenure in violation of the 1999 Constitution as amended”
“What our client is seeking is not new. It has been tested and done in Plateau State,” the senior lawyer said.
He expressed confidence that the court would deliver justice in the interest of the people of Kogi State.
Akubo said he was hopeful that the suit would be determined on an accelerated basis before the election, stressing that the claimant was seeking what he described as constitutional compliance in the administration of local government Councils in the state.
