Home NEWS POLITICS Kogi Sacks 15 Local Council Bosses For Decamping To APC

Kogi Sacks 15 Local Council Bosses For Decamping To APC

Gov-Idris-Wada-2The Kogi state government, under the leadership of governor Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sacked 15 chairmen of local governments from office for defecting to the rival All Progressives Congress (APC).

The sack was contained in a statement issued today in Lokoja and signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, James Adedoyin.

The statement cited section 20, sub section (1) and section 36 sub section 1 (d) of Kogi State Local Government Law 2000 as amended to back the action.

It explained that the sacked chairmen can no longer remain in office having decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that sponsored them.

Some of the affected council chairmen include that of Lokoja, Ogori-Magongo, Idah, Adavi, Ankpa, Okehi, Bassa, Yagba East, Yagba West and Okene among others.

They defected to the APC during the grand finale of its governorship campaign held in Lokoja on Nov. 18.

The statement warned the sacked council chairmen to stay away from offices, even as it directed the vice chairmen or the council leaders to take over the affairs of the affected councils as may be appropriate.

The statement said that handing and taking over should be completed by tomorrow, Wednesday.

One of the grounds for their defection was the refusal of governor Wada to implement a decision of the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Oct 29 that nullified the removal of the elected chairmen from office.

They were removed from office based on the order of a Kogi State High Court sitting in Koton Karfe which ruled that the election of May 4, 2013 which brought them into office was faulty.

Relying on the judgment, Kogi State Government asked the chairmen and councillors to vacate office but the affected officials approached the Appeal Court which set aside the ruling and declared that they resume immediately.

Kogi state government refused to give effect to the ruling until November 23. [myad]

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