A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restore and conduct elections in suppressed constituencies in Kogi State.
Delivering judgment, Justice Isah A. Danshan of the Federal High Court, Lokoja, declared it mandatory for elections to be conducted in the affected constituencies.
He decried what he described as years of injustice, noting that available facts point to the existence of the constituencies at the creation of the state, and consequently ordered their restoration.
Justice Danshan lamented the injustice over the years, particularly that available fact point to the existence of those constituencies at the creation of the state.
The court held that, having been proven beyond reasonable doubt, INEC must, without hesitation, conduct elections into the suppressed constituencies in 2027.
“Having been proven beyond reasonable fact, the Independent National Electoral Commission must, without hesitation, conduct elections in the suppressed constituencies in 2027,” Justice Danshan said.
Reacting to the judgment, Barrister Ayo Kunle Jonathan, lead counsel to the petitioner, expressed satisfaction with the ruling and urged INEC to comply by conducting elections in the affected constituencies.
In his reaction, Barr. Ayo Kunle Jonathan, the lead legal practitioner to the petitioner, expressed satisfaction with the judgement and urged INEC to obey the judgement by conducting elections in the suppressed constituencies.
Also speaking, Barrister Zacchaeus Dare Michael, Executive Chairman of Kabba Bunu Local Government Area, who instituted the suit against INEC and the Kogi State Government, said the cries of the people of the suppressed constituencies had finally been heard.
He called on INEC to commence, without further delay, the process of conducting elections in the constituencies, insisting that the longstanding injustice had now been corrected.
The Executive Chairman called on INEC to, without further delay, begin the process to conduct elections in the deserving constituencies, insisting that the injustice over the years has been corrected.
He commended the judiciary for standing by the people and described the judgment as worthy of commendation.
With the judgment, the electoral umpire is expected to conduct elections in 36 constituencies in 2027 rather than the 25 lawmakers’ positions in previous elections.
The judgment represents a significant development in Kogi State’s electoral landscape and is expected to expand representation in the state legislature ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The judgment represents a significant development in Kogi State’s electoral landscape and is expected to expand representation in the state legislature ahead of the 2027 general elections.