Plateau High Court Declares Four‑Year Tenure for Local Government Chairmen
The Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos has delivered a landmark judgment confirming that elected Local Government Chairmen in the state are constitutionally entitled to a four‑year tenure, thereby nullifying the two‑year tenure prescribed under the Plateau State Local Government Law and the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) Law.
The judgment, delivered by the Chief Judge of Plateau State, Hon. Justice David Gwong Mann, arose from a suit filed by Hon. Anani Hamisu Mohammed, Chairman of Wase Local Government Area, who challenged the validity of the two‑year tenure provisions. He argued that Sections 23(1) of the PLASIEC Law and 38 of the Plateau State Local Government Law were inconsistent with Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, which guarantee a democratically elected local government system.
Justice Mann upheld the claimant’s submissions, ruling that the two‑year tenure imposed by state legislation undermines the constitutional framework for local government administration. The Court declared those provisions null and void to the extent of their inconsistency, affirming that the constitution and Electoral Act envisage a four‑year tenure for elected local government officials, in line with other elective offices across Nigeria.
Granting all the reliefs sought, the Court declared Mohammed’s tenure as Chairman of Wase Local Government Area to be four years, commencing from October 9, 2024, when he was sworn into office. A consequential order was also issued affirming that all elected local government chairmen in Plateau State are entitled to a four‑year tenure.
The ruling restrains the Plateau State Government and PLASIEC from conducting fresh local government elections or interfering with the tenure of current chairmen until the expiration of their constitutionally recognised term. Legal analysts note that the decision reinforces judicial efforts to safeguard local government autonomy and democratic stability, with significant implications for governance and political planning in Plateau State.
