KEKERE-EKUN JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): The appellant in this appeal was elected chairman of Goronyo Local Government Council, Sokoto State sometime in 1990 and again in 1998. On 21/2/2000, the Governor of Sokoto State assented to a bill titled, Local Government Law, 2000, which the Sokoto State House of Assembly had hitherto passed into law. Section 13(4) of the Law provides:
“No person shall be qualified for election to the office of chairman if he has been elected into such office at any two previous elections.”
In April 2002, the appellant informed his party of his intention to contest the post of chairman, Goronyo Local Government once again on the expiration of his current term. He was advised by his party that pursuant to directives from the respondent (Sokoto State Independent Electoral Commission), he was not eligible to contest having regard to the provisions of section 13(4) of the Local Government Law, 2000. The respondent confirmed this position when the appellan…