The High Court of Plateau State has ruled that local government chairmen in Plateau State will now serve a four-year tenure, declaring that the existing two-year term under state law conflicts with the Nigerian Constitution.
The judgement was delivered by the Chief Judge of Plateau State, David Gwong Mann, following a suit filed by Hamisu Anani, chairman of Wase Local Government Area.
Anani filed an originating summons against the Attorney General of Plateau State, seeking judicial clarification on the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the relevant state laws governing the tenure of elected local government officials.
The court held that the two-year term provided under the Plateau State Local Government Law and the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) Law contradicts constitutional provisions guaranteeing a democratically elected local government system.
Reacting to the ruling, Plateau State Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General, Philemon Dafi, said the court granted Anani’s request after carefully considering the constitutional issues.
He explained, “The Chairman of Wase Local Government, Hon. Hamisu Anani, sued the Attorney General through an originating summons seeking interpretation of the Constitution, the Plateau State Local Government Law, and the PLASIEC Law. He raised four questions regarding the tenure of local government chairmen, and the court heard his prayers, declaring that the tenure of all local government chairmen in Plateau State is four years within Nigeria’s constitutional framework.”
The court further noted that the previous two-year tenure undermined democratic governance at the grassroots level and could not stand against the Constitution. Counsel to Anani, Madueke Okafor, described the ruling as a victory for democracy and a correct interpretation of the law.
Okafor said, “We are pleased with the judgement. It represents an excellent interpretation of the Constitution, and we believe that the tenure of local government chairmen and councillors in Plateau State is now officially four years.”
He added that the ruling places greater responsibility on elected officials to make the longer tenure meaningful through effective service. “The onus is now on them to use this period in service of the people,” he said.
