The Kogi State High Court sitting in Koton Karfe has fixed Wednesday, October 7, 2026, for a ruling in a suit seeking four-year terms for elected local government chairmen and councillors in the state.
The case comes ahead of the local government elections scheduled for Saturday, October 17, placing the tenure dispute before the court as preparations for the polls enter their final stages.
Moses Christy, a councillor representing Okehi Local Government Council, instituted the action on her own behalf and on behalf of local government chairmen and councillors across Kogi State.
The defendants are the Kogi State Government, the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) and the Kogi State House of Assembly.
Councillor Challenges Two- and Three-Year Tenure Provisions
The claimant is challenging Section 50 of the Kogi State Local Government Law 2023 and Sections 25 and 26 of the law as amended in 2025.
According to her counsel, J.A. Akubo, SAN, the provisions prescribe two- and three-year terms for elected council officials. The claimant contends that those provisions are inconsistent with the Constitution and relevant electoral legislation.
The matter came before Justice Aminu Eri on Monday, October 5. The court admitted preliminary applications, motions and affidavits submitted by the parties before adjourning until Wednesday for ruling.
Akubo led the claimant’s legal team alongside T.U. Odoma, S.S. Udaa and A.O. Apeh. The state government’s legal team comprised Dr. Zakari, O.O. Adegboyega and V.A. Shaibu.
Akubo Cites Plateau Case, Seeks Accelerated Determination
Speaking to journalists after the proceedings, Akubo argued that local government administration should operate within a uniform constitutional framework.
He referred to a similar case in Plateau State which, according to him, resulted in a ruling supporting four-year terms for elected local government officials.
“What our client is seeking is not new. It has been tested and done in Plateau State,” Akubo said.
He also alleged that the respondents submitted their counter-affidavits and other processes outside the period prescribed by the court.
Akubo said the court nevertheless admitted the processes and reserved its ruling. He expressed hope that the matter would receive accelerated determination before the council elections.
The proposed four-year tenure remains a relief sought by the claimant. Monday’s proceedings did not establish that the court had granted an extension or suspended the elections.
KOSIEC Election Notice Confirms October 17 Polls
A notice published on the Kogi State Government website confirms that the council elections are scheduled for October 17, 2026.
KOSIEC said the exercise would cover the state’s 21 local government areas, 239 electoral wards and 3,508 polling units. The commission urged political parties, candidates, security agencies and voters to cooperate in ensuring peaceful and credible elections.
The pending suit concerns the duration of elected council officials’ terms. Its implications for the current officials and the forthcoming polls will depend on the orders the court makes.
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