Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Sanga Local Government Legislative Council has suspended five of its members for a period of six months, following allegations of disobedience to constitutional authorities and conduct deemed contrary to government interest. The suspension was announced on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, by the Speaker of the Council, Hon. David Ali Ahmed, in a statement issued through his Legislative Assistant, Yerima T. Saleh. The affected councillors represent wards across the local government area, which is located in the southern part of Kaduna State, bordering Plateau and Nasarawa states. According to the statement, the decision was taken after a motion was presented before the legislative council and unanimously adopted following deliberations on the allegations levelled against the lawmakers.
The suspended councillors are Hon. Kenneth Angos Amar (Ninzo South Ward), Hon. Samuel Jibrin (Nandu Ward), Rt. Hon. Tanko Ibrahim Madaki (Wasa Ward), Hon. Hudu Adamu (Aboro Ward), and Hon. Hamidu Ibrahim Musa (ward not specified in the release). The Speaker directed the affected councillors to immediately hand over all government documents, official properties, and identification cards in their possession. They were also warned to refrain from parading themselves as council members pending further resolution by the Legislative Council. The statement did not provide specific details of the allegations, describing them only as "acts against government interest" and "confrontational to constitutional authorities."
Sanga Local Government Area, with its administrative headquarters in Gbantu, has a history of political tensions between the executive and legislative arms, a pattern common in many local government councils across Nigeria. The suspension of five councillors, representing a significant portion of the legislative house, raises questions about the stability of governance in the area. Local government councils in Nigeria operate under a presidential system at the grassroots level, with a chairman as the chief executive and councillors as lawmakers. The constitution grants legislative councils the power to regulate their own proceedings, including the suspension of members, though such suspensions are typically reserved for cases of gross misconduct, financial impropriety, or violation of standing orders.
The absence of a public hearing or investigation prior to the suspension has raised concerns among civil society groups in Kaduna State. The Speaker's statement indicated that the decision followed "deliberations on the allegations," but it did not specify whether the affected councillors were given an opportunity to defend themselves. Under the Local Government Law of Kaduna State, legislative councils are required to follow due process, including the issuance of a query and the opportunity for a fair hearing, before imposing disciplinary measures. Political analysts in Kaduna noted that the six-month suspension effectively removes the five councillors from office for half a term, potentially altering the balance of power in the council and affecting representation for their wards.
The affected councillors have not yet issued any public response to their suspension. Attempts to reach Hon. Kenneth Angos Amar and other suspended councillors through phone calls were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. It remains unclear whether they will challenge the suspension in court or seek redress through the Kaduna State House of Assembly, which has oversight authority over local government councils. The Sanga Legislative Council, under Speaker David Ali Ahmed, has not released further details about the specific acts of disobedience or the names of the members who moved the motion for suspension.
This is not the first time Sanga Local Government has witnessed internal political upheaval. In 2024, the council was rocked by a leadership tussle that led to the impeachment of the then Vice Chairman, though the matter was later resolved through the intervention of the Kaduna State Government. The suspension of the five councillors comes just weeks after the local government elections that returned the current executive and legislative members to office. Some residents of the affected wards expressed frustration over the development, saying that they had elected their councillors to represent their interests and that a prolonged suspension would deprive them of legislative representation. Others, however, supported the Speaker's decision, arguing that disobedience to constituted authority cannot be tolerated at any level of governance.
The Kaduna State Ministry for Local Government has not commented on the suspension. Under the state's local government law, the Commissioner for Local Government has the power to intervene in council disputes, though such interventions are usually exercised as a last resort. The suspended councillors retain the right to appeal the decision to the Legislative Council or to seek judicial review. As the six-month suspension takes effect, the Sanga Legislative Council will have to manage with a reduced number of lawmakers, potentially affecting its ability to conduct legislative business, including budget approvals and oversight functions. For the five suspended councillors, the immediate tasks are handing over official property and staying away from council premises. Whether they will return after six months or face further disciplinary action remains to be seen.
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