Kogi Gov. sacks 15 LG Chairmen for defecting to APC

Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada, has sacked 15 local government chairmen for defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This was disclosed in a statement released in Lokoja, the state capital, on Tuesday, Nov. 24, by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr James Adedoyin,

The government backed the removal of the 15 Chairmen with the section 20 sub section ( 1) and section 36 sub section 1 (d) of Kogi State Local Government Law 2000 as amended.

Some of the sacked chairmen are of Lokoja, Ogori-Magongo, Idah, Adavi, Ankpa, Okehi, Bassa, Yagba East, Yagba West and Okene among others.

It directed the vice chairmen or council leaders to assume the affairs of the local governments while warning the affected chairmen not to go near their offices.

According to the governor, the handing over is expected to be effected tomorrow, Nov. 25.

The affected chairmen, had primarily, defected to the APC on the ground that Wada failed to carry out the Appeal court ruling of Oct. 29, which 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 shady.

Based on the judgement, the state Government directed the chairmen to vacate office. But they headed to the Appeal Court to contest their removal, in which the court set aside the ruling and declared that they resume immediately.

However, the Kogi state government failed to effect the appeal court ruling.