ALGON dismisses suit over Kogi LG chairmen’s tenure

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Kogi State Chapter, has dismissed as baseless and misleading a purported lawsuit alleging plans by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to dissolve the elected chairmen of the state’s 21 local government areas.

In a statement signed on Thursday by the State ALGON Chairman, Hon. Tosin Olokun, the association described the litigation as ill-motivated and based on false assumptions, insisting that the governor has neither announced nor contemplated any illegal dissolution of democratically elected local government chairmen.

The statement read:

“The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Kogi State Chapter, has noted with concern media reports surrounding a suit purportedly filed by two individuals seeking to restrain the Executive Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, from allegedly dissolving the elected chairmen of the 21 local government areas of the state.

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“The leadership of ALGON wishes to categorically state that the foundation upon which the litigation is predicated is false, misleading, and entirely speculative. At no time has the Governor of Kogi State announced or contemplated the illegal dissolution of democratically elected local government chairmen in the state.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the tenure of the current local government chairmen is clearly defined by the extant laws of Kogi State. The law under which the chairmen were elected expressly provides for a two-year tenure, and the incumbent chairmen are fully aware that their constitutional and statutory tenure expires in October 2026.

“The expiration of a legally prescribed tenure cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be misconstrued as dissolution. It is therefore misleading and legally untenable for anyone to suggest that the governor intends to dissolve elected local government administrations outside the provisions of the law. Such claims are nothing more than conjecture designed to misinform the public and create unnecessary political tension.

“ALGON further states unequivocally that there are no plans whatsoever by the Kogi State Government to appoint caretaker or interim committees to administer the affairs of any local government area. Rather, the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) has already slated the conduct of local government elections for October 2026, before the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent chairmen.

“Consequently, upon the expiration of the current tenure in October 2026, duly elected or re-elected chairmen will be sworn into office in accordance with the provisions of the law, ensuring a seamless, constitutional, and democratic transition without any vacuum in local government administration.

“The leadership of ALGON, together with its 21 member councils, wishes to state emphatically that neither the association nor any of its members has any knowledge of, involvement in, or affiliation with the purported litigation. We completely dissociate ourselves from what appears to be an ill-motivated and unnecessary attempt by certain individuals to cast aspersions on the democratic credentials of Kogi State and bring the government into disrepute.

“We reaffirm our confidence in the commitment of His Excellency, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, to the rule of law, constitutional governance, and the deepening of democratic institutions at the grassroots. ALGON has continued to work closely with the State Government, the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission, and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the forthcoming local government elections are free, fair, credible, and hitch-free, culminating in a smooth transition to a new tenure of elected local government administrations.

“We therefore urge the good people of Kogi State to disregard the unfounded claims contained in the suit and the misconceptions arising from them. There is no constitutional crisis, no proposed illegal dissolution of elected councils, and no plan to undermine democratic governance at the local government level.

“ALGON calls on all residents of Kogi State to remain calm, law-abiding, and supportive of the government at all levels as we collectively continue to build a more peaceful, prosperous, and democratically stable state.”