The House of Representatives has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restore what it described as the 12 suppressed constituencies in Kogi State.
This decision followed the consideration and adoption of a motion brought before the lawmakers on Wednesday by the Kogi House caucus.
Leading the motion, Idris Salman, who represents Ijumu/Kabba-Bunnu Federal Constituency, cited the 1999 Constitution (as amended), stating that a state House of Assembly should consist of three or four times the number of seats it has in the House of Representatives, with the allocation reflecting an equal population distribution.
He also referenced Section 114(1), which mandates a periodic review of state constituencies every 10 years, with adjustments as necessary.
“In the gubernatorial and state Assembly elections that were held on December 14, 1991, Kogi State had 32 state constituencies in which elections were duly conducted and winners declared,” Salman said.
He added, “Kogi State, which has nine seats in the House of Representatives, is supposed to have at least 27 or 36 House of Assembly seats as provided for in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
Salman lamented that the last review of state constituencies in Kogi shortchanged the state.
“The last review of state constituencies in Nigeria by INEC was in 1998, which resulted in the suppression of some constituencies in the Kogi State House of Assembly seats,” he said.
“From 1998 to date, INEC has continued to suppress the Kogi State House of Assembly seats in constituencies such as Kabba-Bunu II, Ijumu II, Koton Karfe I, Yagba West II, Adavi II, Iffe/Ogodu, Igala Ogba, Okura, Enjema, Dekina Town, Olamaboro II, and Bassa-Nge/Gbirra.”
He further argued that “The restoration of the suppressed constituencies in Kogi State will further deepen our democracy in terms of quality representation and grassroots development and promote equality.”
Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged INEC to restore the constituencies and directed its Committee on Electoral Matters to engage with INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and report back within four weeks.
In a related development, the House also called on INEC to urgently restore the Sapele II State Assembly Constituency in Delta State in compliance with a Federal High Court judgment and constitutional provisions.
This resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Benedict Etanabene, who represents Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency in Delta State.
Source: Linda Ikeji Blog