High Court Cites Constitution, Ends Two-Year Tenure for Plateau LG Chairmen

Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos has nullified the two-year tenure previously assigned to elected local government chairmen in the state, ruling that it is inconsistent with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

Delivering the judgment, Chief Judge Justice David Mann held that the two-year tenure stipulated under Plateau State laws and regulations of the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) contradicts Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

The court ruled that elected local government chairmen must instead serve a four-year tenure, aligning with constitutional provisions that guarantee a democratic and stable local government system.

Justice Mann also referenced the 2024 Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy, which affirmed that elected council chairmen and councillors across Nigeria should have a uniform four-year tenure.

Reacting to the judgment, Plateau State Attorney-General Philemon Daffi welcomed the decision, stating that it provides clarity and resolves lingering disputes over the tenure of local government officials in the state.

Similarly, counsel to the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Plateau State, Madueke Okofor, described the ruling as a positive development that strengthens democratic governance at the grassroots level.