By Peter Omopo
The Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to restore and conduct elections in suppressed state constituencies in Kogi State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Delivering judgment, Justice Isa Dashen ruled that INEC must reinstate the affected constituencies and organise elections to ensure proper representation in the Kogi State House of Assembly.
The ruling follows concerns over the composition of the Assembly, which currently has 25 members. A civic group, Concerned Citizens, had earlier called on INEC to urgently restore 11 suppressed constituencies, comprising one in Kogi East, six in Kogi Central and four in Kogi West. The group maintained that the move was necessary to guarantee equitable representation and strengthen democratic governance in the state.
The petitioners argued that the present structure of the Assembly contravenes Section 91 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that a state House of Assembly shall consist of not less than 27 and not more than 36 members based on federal constituency representation.
Counsel to the petitioner, Barrister Ayo Jonathan, welcomed the judgment and urged INEC to comply with the court’s directive by conducting elections in the affected constituencies. The plaintiff and Chairman of Kabba-Bunu Local Government, Barrister Zacchaeus Michael, described the decision as a confirmation that the concerns of the people had been acknowledged.
INEC had yet to issue an official response to the ruling as of the time of filing this report.
