By TAIYE AGBAJE

Alhaji Aminu Yakubu-Ladan, the Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Area (LGA) in Niger State, has sued the state government over alleged reduction of tenure of local government chairmen and councillors.

Yakubu-Ladan, in the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, sought an order restraining the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) and its co-defendants from conducting the scheduled LGAs’ election until the expiration of their tenure.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NSIEC had fixed Nov. 1 for the conduct of the local government poll across the state.

However, the plaintiff in the suit, named the Attorney-General of Niger State, the house of assembly, NSIEC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.

The Chairman is challenging the constitutionality of the Niger State Local Government Law, 2001, which seeks to reduce the tenure of local government chairmen and councillors from four years to three years.

Yakubu-Ladan, in the originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1370/2025, dated July 10 but filed July 11 by his counsel, Chris Udeoyibo, sought eight questions for determination.

The chairman questions whether the state government can enforce inconsistent local government law, 2001 (as amended) which clashed with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022.

“Should Niger State Local Government Law Section 29 (2) be declared unconstitutional for clashing with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022,” he said.

The plaintiff seeks a declaration that four years tenure for local government chairmen and councillors is constitutionally guaranteed by virtue of the constitution and the Electoral Act, 2022.

The suit also challenged NSIEC preparation for local government elections slated for Nov. 1.

The plaintiff, therefore, seeks an order restraining the defendants from the elections on Nov. 1 until the expiration of four years tenure for chairmen and councillors.

The suit also seeks to restrain INEC and the I-G from providing logistical support and security protection for the election.

Yakubu-Ladan argued that the state’ local government law, 2001 is inconsistent with Section 7 of the constitution and Section 018 and 150 of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The suit is yet to be assigned to a judge as at the time of the report. (NAN)