Reps Order Restoration of Suppressed State Constituencies in Benue Districts

The House of Representatives has officially directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restore several state constituencies within the Ado, Okpokwu, and Ogbadibo Local Government Areas of Benue State. This resolution, passed during a plenary session with an aim to correct a long-standing "suppression" of legislative representation for these communities.

Under Section 91 of the 1999 Constitution, state assemblies are required to maintain a specific number of seats based on the number of federal constituencies, a provision the House argues is currently being violated in these Benue districts. In the Nigerian federal system, state constituencies serve as the primary link between rural communities and the state government.

The House noted that the failure to restore these seats ignores both judicial precedents and constitutional mandates that require periodic reviews of electoral boundaries to reflect population and geographical changes. To address this, the House has mandated its Committee on Electoral Matters to ensure that INEC complies with the directive well before the commencement of the 2027 general election cycle.

Once fully implemented, it will allow for the election of new representatives, effectively increasing the legislative headcount in the Benue State House of Assembly. Supporters of the motion argue that this is a critical step toward ensuring that the people of Ado, Okpokwu, and Ogbadibo receive their fair share of democratic dividends and administrative attention.

Do you think restoring these constituencies will significantly improve governance at the local level, or is the move more about political maneuvering for the 2027 elections? Share your comments below!

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