Governor Idris Wada of Kogi on Tuesday removed 15
chairmen of local governments from office for defecting
to the rival All Progressives Congress (APC).
This is contained in a statement issued in Lokoja and
signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of
Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, James
Adedoyin in Lokoja.
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 November 18.
The statement warned the sacked council chairmen to
stay away from their offices, directing the vice chairmen
or the council leaders to take over the affairs of the
affected councils as may be appropriate.
The governor said the handing and taking over should
be completed by Wednesday Nov. 25, the statement said.
One of the grounds for their defection was the refusal of
Mr. 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, the 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.
The Kogi state government refused to give effect to the
ruling until Nov. 23.
(NAN)
http:// www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/193859-kogi-governor-idris-wada-sacks-15-lg-chairmen-for-defecting-to-apc.html

They will definitely be appointed back as APC is ruling now.