Wada sacks 15 LG chairmen for defecting to APC

Idris Wada, governor of Kogi state, has removed 15 chairmen of local governments from office for defecting to the rival All Progressives Congress (APC).

James Adedoyin, the permanent secretary of the ministry of local governments and chieftaincy affairs, announced the dismissal of the local government officials in a statement issued in Lokoja, capital of the state, on Tuesday.

The statement cited section 20 sub section ( 1) and section 36 sub section 1 (d) of Kogi state local government law 2000 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.

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

The statement warned the sacked council chairmen to stay away from offices, directing their deputies or the council leaders to take over the affairs of the affected councils.

The governor said the handing and taking over should be completed by Wednesday November 25.

One of the grounds for their defection was the refusal of Wada to implement a decision of the court of appeal that nullified their removal from office.

They were dismissed after a Kogi state high court, sitting in Koton Karfe, ruled that the election of May 4, 2013 which brought them into office, was faulty.

Relying on the judgment, Wada directed 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 but the Kogi state government refused to give effect to the ruling until November 23.