The Yagba people in Kogi State have called on the Independent National Electorial Commission (INEC) to restore the two suppressed state constituencies in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Prince Friday Ogungbemi made the call for the restoration of the two constituencies during a press conference in Lokoja on Friday.
Ogungbemi said the people of these two state constituencies (Yagba West I and Yagba West II)
have for a long time suffered a lot of setback as a result of the failure of INEC to restore their suppressed since the commencement of the present political dispensation in 1999.
He said : “This denial has denied the people of adequate representation of their various Constituencies.
“This call becomes very necessary for INEC to consider these two constituencies that were earlier created in the year 1991 for the General Election into the State House of Assembly then.
“It has therefore become very necessary to enforce the recent Federal High Court judgement order in Suit No: FHC/LKJ/CS/01/2026 delivered in Lokoja directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restore and conduct elections in the suppressed constituencies in Kogi State.
“Justice Isah Danshan’s declaration ordered that elections must be conducted in the suppressed constituencies.”
Ogungbemi, a journalist and community leader
lamented the injustice over the years, particularly that available fact point to the existence of those constituencies at the creation of the state.
”Having been proven beyond reasonable fact, the Independent National Electoral Commission must, without hesitation, conduct elections in the suppressed constituencies in 2027,” he quoted Justice Danshan as saying while delivering judgment on the suit.
“The people of Yagba West LGA therefore call on INEC to, without further delay, begin the process of enlisting the two constituencies currently omitted in line with the press release issued by INEC titled: “CONDUCT OF PARTY PRIMARIES IN THE RESTORED CONSTITUENCIES IN BENUE, DELTA, JIGAWA AND KOGI STATES FOR THE ELECTION”, signed by Muhammad Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee dated 10th June, 2026, to conduct elections in the deserving constituencies, insisting that the injustice over the years has to be corrected.
“The above mentioned press release revealed a high level of inconsistencies in INEC electoral processes when viewed with INEC letter references; INEC/HQ/EOPS/DEL/S. 32/213 dated 30th April, 2026 titled “COMMENCEMENT OF TECHNICAL PROCESSES TOWARDS THE RESTORATION OF SUPPRESSED STATE CONSTITUENCIES addressed to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (Delta, Kogi, Jigawa and Benue States) and signed by Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, Secretary to the Commission.
“The letter in part read, “The Commission, at its meeting held on 30 April 2026, approved the commencement of technical processes towards the restoration of the 20 court ordered suppressed Constituencies in Kogi (11), Delta (4), Benue (5) and Jigawa (1).
“With the judgement, INEC is expected to revive and conduct elections in 36 constituencies in 2027 rather than the 25 Constituencies in previous elections.
“The court in it’s finally submission granted the following orders as the
“ORDERS OF COURT :
1.RELIEF ONE IS HEREBY GRANTED: The declaration
that the suppression of certain Kogi State constituencies to wit:Central Senatorial District: Adavi (Adavi West and Adavi East), Ajaokuta
(Ajaokuta South and Ajaokuta North), Okehi (EIka
and Ihima), Western Senatorial District: Ijumu (Ijumu I (Gbede) and Ijumu-Arin II), Kabba/Bunu
(Kabba/Bunu I and Kabba/Bunu II ), Kogi(Koton Karfe I and Koton Karfe II), Eastern Senatorial District:
Bassa(Bassa Nge/Igbirra)and
Bassa Komu respectively is unlawful.
“2.RELIEF TWO IS HEREBY GRANTED : An Order is hereby
made directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to restore the affected constituencies to wit: Central Senatorial District: Adavi (Adavi West and Adavi East), Ajaokuta (Ajaokuta South and Ajaokuta North),Okehi(EIka and Ihima), Western Senatorial
District: Ijumu (Ijumu I (Gbede) and Ijumu-Arin II), Kabba/Bunu (Kabba/Bunu I and Kabba/Bunu II), Kogi (Koton Karfe I and Koton Karfe II) Eastern Senatorial District: Bassa (Bassa Nge/Igbirra) and Bassa Komu in accordance with the Constitution.
“3. RELIEF THREE IS HEREBY GRANTED : An Order is hereby made directing the 1st Respondent to conduct elections into the restored constituencies mentioned in both reliefs one and two above during the next — general elections in accordance with the Constitution.
“4 RELIEF FOUR IS HEREBY GRANTED: It is hereby declared that the Respondents are under a constitutional obligation to comply with Section 91 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) in the composition of the Kogi
State House of Assembly.
“5, RELIEF FIVE IS. HEREBY GRANTED: The declaration that the suppression of the thirty (32) constituencies existing after the creation of Kogi State is unconstitutional is hereby granted.
“6. For the avoidance of doubt and in furtherance of the foregoing findings of Court, it is hereby Ordered that the 1st Respondent (INEC) shall in so far as the State can beat the financial implications and is ready to do so, grant request for creation of additional constituencies in accordance with the provision of Section 91 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(As Amended).”
Ogungbemi further stated that : “Finally, as a matter of urgency, this matter should be adequately resolved, we therefore urge INEC to include Yagba West I and Yagba West II constituencies in the ongoing processes for restoration of suppressed Constituencies in Kogi State.
“Based on the recent court judgement, that mandated INEC to restore all the suppressed constituencies, in the interest of justice, fairness and adequate representation of the good people of Yagba West I and Yagba West II constituencies in Kogi State.”
(vitalnewsngr.com)
