Gov. Idris Wada of Kogi State, has debunked reports that he sacked chairmen of local governments from office for defecting to the rival All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that he only obeyed the order of the Appeal Court by reinstating them.
Reacting to a statement issued in Lokoja and signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, James Adedoyin, Wada stated that he was only acting on the ruling by the Court of Appeal.
He noted that he only reinstated the chairmen and councilors that were removed in December 2014.
It would be recalled that a Kogi State High Court sitting in Koton Karfe ruled that the election of May 4, 2013 which brought the chairmen and councilors into office was faulty.
Relying on the judgment, Kogi State Government asked the chairmen and councilors to vacate office but the affected officials approached the Appeal Court which set aside the ruling and declared that they resume immediately.
But Kogi State Government refused to give effect to the ruling until November 23, 2015.
In his defence, Wada wrote on Twitter, “The LGA chairmen and councilors were removed by a Kotun-Karfe court about 11 months ago. The party went to the court of appeal & court order they be returned.
“It is a lie that I sacked LGA Chairmen for defecting from the PDP. This story is not true.”
“I only reinstated the LGA Chairmen as directed by the Appeal Court,” he stated.
It is a lie that I sacked LGA Chairmen for defecting from the PDP. This story is not true.
— Capt. Idris Wada (@CaptWada) November 24, 2015
I only reinstated the LGA Chairmen as directed by the Appeal Court.
— Capt. Idris Wada (@CaptWada) November 24, 2015
The LGA were removed by a Kotun-karfe court about 11 months ago. The party went to the court of appeal & court order they be returned.
— Capt. Idris Wada (@CaptWada) November 24, 2015
