BREAKING: Chanchaga LG Chairman Suspended Days After Suing Niger State Govt Over Tenure Dispute

The Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Area in Niger State, Aminu Yakubu Ladan, has been suspended by the legislative council—just days after he took the state government and the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) to court over an alleged plot to remove him from office before the expiration of his tenure.

Ladan announced last week that he had approached the court to stop the planned council elections scheduled for November 2025.

He posted a photo with his legal team and wrote: “As Executive Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government, we have taken legal action against the national and state INEC to halt the planned November election.

“Our tenure is constitutionally four years, not three years, following the Supreme Court verdict. I pray that justice prevails.”

However, in a letter dated July 28, 2025, the Legislative Council served him with a formal “notice of suspension” citing nine allegations.

The letter, signed by eight out of 10 councillors, invoked the Niger State Local Government Law, Cap. 77, Sections 24, 26, 31, 38, and 39, as the legal basis for their action.

The letter stated, “Gross misconduct and misappropriation of council funds contravenes section 38(1)(a) of the Local Government law, which stipulates that council funds must be expended strictly for approved purposes and with due process.

“Illegal Allocation of Plots in the Market: A clear abuse of office and violation of Land allocation regulations, contrary to section 24(1)(a), which requires the council to act transparently in land related matters.

“Refusal of Directors to appear before the Legislative Council: in breach of section 26 of the Local Government Law, which mandates executive appointees to honour summons by the legislature for oversight functions.

“Lack of Accountability on Minna Development Funds: Failure to present periodic reports and financial breakdowns on key development allocations, contrary to the principles of transparency under the fiscal responsibility framework and section 38(1)(4).

“Illegal Award of Contracts without Legislative Oversight: Breach of procurement procedure and circumvention to legislative scrutiny. As enshrined in section 39 of the Local Government law and the Niger State Procurement guidelines.

“Incompetence and non-adherence to rule of law: the Chairman has demonstrated consistent inability to uphold provisions of the law, undermining good governance and service delivery.

“Failure to provide Council's Statement of Accounts to legislators contrary to section 38(1)(a) which mandates executives to provide financial statements to the legislative body at specified intervals.

“Absence of Finance and General (F & G) Committee Meetings: A serious lapse in administrative practice and financial planning, violating section 25, which mandates periodic meetings to determine spending priorities.

“Failure to honor the invitations to you severally by the legislative council.”

“We, therefore, in line with the provisions of Section 31(2) of the Niger State Local Government Law, hereby request your immediate suspension pending investigation,” it added.

He has been given five working days to submit a written defence to the council clerk, with failure to respond considered a forfeiture of the right to defend against the allegations.

Signatories to the notice are Rt. Hon. Yahuza Saidu (Makera Ward), Rt. Hon. Abdulrahman Suleiman (Limawa 'A'), Hon. Yusuf Suleiman (Nassarawa 'A'), Hon. Aliyu Mohammed (Minna Central), Hon. Yahaya Usman (Tudun Wada South), Hon. Abubakar Abdullahi Abdullahi (Tudun Wada North), Hon. Ahmad Adamu Luya (Sabon Gari), and Hon. Rabiu Abubakar (Limawa 'B').

The Majority Leader representing Minna South Ward and the councillor representing Nasarawa B Ward did not sign the document.

It is worth noting that Ladan failed to emerge as the consensus candidate during the APC primary election ahead of the November council polls.