Kogi State Sacks 15 Local Government Chairmen

The Governor of Kogi Idris Wada on Tuesday sacked 15 local government chairmen for defecting to the opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC).The governor conveyed this in a statement issued in Lokoja, duly signed by Mr James Adedoyin, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, in Lokoja.The statement cites section 20(1) and section 36(1) (d) of Kogi State Local Government Law 2000 as amended to back the action of the state government.The statement explains that the sacked chairmen can no longer remain in office since they moved to the opposition party, leaving their sponsor the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).Some of the sacked chairmen include: Idah, Adavi, Ankpa, Okehi, Bassa, Yagba East, Yagba West and Okene and that of Lokoja, Ogori-Magongo, among others.The defection to the opposition party APC was during the grand finale of its governorship campaign held on November 18 in Lokoja.The sacked council chairmen were warned to stay away from their offices, their vice-chairmen were directed to take over the affairs of the affected councils as may be appropriate.The governor said in the statement that the handing over should start and be completed by Wednesday November 25.Their removal from office was based on the order of a Kogi State High Court sitting in Koton Karfe. The High Court ruled that the election of May 4, 2013 which brought the council chairmen into office was faulty.However, the affected, officials approached the Appeal Court which set aside the ruling and declared that the council chairmen should resume immediately.The government of Kogi state refused to give effect to the ruling until November 23