JUST IN: Court Orders INEC to Conduct Elections in 11 Kogi Constituencies

A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct elections in 11 constituencies that were previously suppressed in Kogi State.

The ruling followed a suit challenging the long-standing exclusion of the affected constituencies from the state’s electoral structure.

Justice Isah Danshan held that the suppressed constituencies were valid and legally recognized at the time Kogi State was created. He said records before the court clearly confirmed their existence and status under the law.

Delivering judgment, the court faulted the continued omission of the constituencies from electoral processes over the years.

The judge described the situation as an injustice against the people of the affected areas.

“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.

Following the ruling, Barrister Ayo Kunle Jonathan, lead counsel to the petitioners, welcomed the decision of the court.

He urged Independent National Electoral Commission to respect the judgment and begin preparations to include the constituencies in the next general election.

The Executive Chairman of Kabba Bunu Local Government Area, who instituted the suit against INEC and the Kogi State Government, also reacted to the verdict. He said the judgment marked the end of years of marginalization faced by residents of the affected constituencies.

According to him, the voices of the people had finally been heard through the court. He called on INEC to immediately commence the necessary administrative and legal processes to ensure elections are held in the constituencies in 2027.

With the judgment, Kogi State is expected to have 36 constituencies participating in the next election cycle instead of the 25 legislative seats contested in previous elections.