Plateau Court Restores Four-Year Tenure for LG Chairmen

On Friday, the Plateau State High Court, presided over by Chief Justice David Mann, declared the two-year tenure for local government chairmen unconstitutional, thereby restoring the four-year term as stipulated by the 1999 Constitution. The court found that the two-year term, as outlined in the Plateau State Local Government Law and the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission Law, contradicts constitutional provisions that guarantee a democratic electoral system for local governance.

The ruling came as a result of a challenge brought by Anani Hamisu Moham and Moham, who argued that the two-year term conflicted with sections of the Electoral Act and the Constitution. Justice Mann emphasized that the shorter tenure undermines the constitutional framework for local government administration.

The judgment is significant as it comes ahead of local government elections scheduled for September 2026, ensuring that elected chairmen will serve a four-year term instead of the previously mandated two years.