Kogi Court Upholds Local Government Tenure Laws

On October 12, 2026, Justice Aminu Eri delivered a judgement dismissing a suit that challenged the tenure of local government officials in Kogi State. The claimant, a former councillor from Ibaji Local Government Area, argued that his removal after two years violated the 1999 Constitution and sought to restrain the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) from conducting local government elections.

The claimant's counsel, J.A. Akubo, SAN, contended that local government officials should serve four-year terms, citing the Electoral Act 2026.

However, the defendants argued that state Houses of Assembly have the authority to legislate on local government tenure. Justice Eri ruled that the claimant's arguments were based on incorrect assumptions and clarified that the Constitution does not mandate a uniform tenure for local government officials.

He dismissed the suit for lacking merit and struck out a separate suit aimed at halting the local government elections scheduled for October 17, 2026. Counsel for the Kogi State House of Assembly praised the judgement as a landmark decision.