The Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence, FJHD, inline with the Urhobo People integrity organization has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to restore what they described as “suppressed state constituencies” in Delta State with immediate effect.
In a press release made available to newsmen in Udu local government area of Delta State, the National Coordinator of the FJHD, Barr.Oghenejabor Ikimi, opined that Deltans are under-represented to their detriment contrary to sections 91 and 112 of the1999 constitution as amended which states as follows: “Subject to the provisions of the constitution, a House of Assembly shall consist of three or four times the number of seats that are in the House of Representatives divided in a way to reflect, as far as possible, nearly equal population: provided that a House of Assembly of a state shall consist of not less than forty members.”
According to the group, section 112 of the constitution provides as follows: “Subject to the provision of section 91 and 113 of this constitution, the Independent National Electoral Commission shall divide every state in the federation into such member state constituencies as is equal to three or four times the number of federal constituencies within the state.”
Barr. Ikimi who stated that it is the duty of the Independent National Electoral Commission to restore all suppressed state constituencies in Delta State explained that consequent upon the provision of section 91 and 112of the 1999 constitution as amended, the basic constitutional membership required in the Delta State House of Assembly ought to be three or four times the number of seats which Delta State currently has in the House of Representativesand the basic requirements of the Delta State House of Assembly ought to be 40members as against the existing 29.
The human rights activists who said he is aware of the factthat Delta State has a population of 4,112,445 people pursuant to 2006 Nigerian National Census and now has a minimum of 4,500,000 people, pointed out that there are presently 10 federal constituencies at the National Assembly and 29 state constituencies in Delta State House of Assembly against the constitutional requirement.
Barr. Ikimi called on INEC to restore all suppressed state constituencies in Delta State and make same operational as the electoral body’s failure to do so has since and will continue to deprive Deltans of their constitutional rights to adequate representation.
He noted that INEC hassince made operational the hitherto suppressed constituencies in Benue and Oyo States pursuant to an Appeal Court Judgment as well as a Federal High Court Judgment, Ibadan Judicial Division delivered on 10th January 2007 and 8th of March2013 respectively but have not deemed it fit to do same in Delta State.
Copyright: Fresh Angle International (www.freshangleng.com)
ISSN 2354 - 4104
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