A political activist and public affairs analyst, Usman Okai Austin, has criticised the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over what he described as a misleading claim that a federal constituency is limited to four State House of Assembly seats.
In a statement issued in Lokoja, Okai argued that such a position runs contrary to constitutional principles and historical precedents guiding representation in Nigeria.
He maintained that factors such as population, landmass, and existing demographics should determine the number of state constituencies within a federal constituency, not an arbitrary ceiling.
“The idea that a federal constituency can only have four state seats is simply false,” he said, noting that Kogi State’s nine federal constituencies and 36 assembly seats cannot be equitably distributed under such a restriction.
He warned that enforcing the claim would amount to disenfranchising certain communities.
To support his position, Okai cited examples from several states where federal constituencies oversee more than four state assembly seats, including Lagos State, Kano State, Kaduna State, Plateau State, Benue State, Oyo, and Anambra.
The activist’s comments follow a recent judgment by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, where Justice Isah A. Danshan reportedly ordered INEC to restore 12 constituencies in Kogi State said to have been suppressed over the years. The court held that the constituencies, which existed at the state’s creation, must be reinstated, with elections to be conducted in them by 2027.
The constituencies listed for restoration include Kabba-Bunu II, Ijumu II, Koton Karfe I, Yagba West II, Adavi II, Ife/Ogodu, Igala Ogba, Okura, Enjema, Dekina Town, Olamaboro II, and Bassa-Nge/Gbirra.
Reacting to the ruling, counsel to the petitioners, Ayo Kunle Jonathan, welcomed the decision and urged INEC to comply fully with the court order. Similarly, the Executive Chairman of Kabba Bunu Local Government Area, Zacchaeus Dare Michael, described the verdict as long overdue, saying it marked the end of years of marginalisation.
Okai, however, stressed that the responsibility now lies with INEC to implement the judgment faithfully and ensure that the 2027 elections reflect what he called the “true representation” of Kogi.
He urged the electoral body to act in accordance with the law and avoid actions capable of undermining public confidence in the democratic process.
“The judgment is clear. This is about restoring the voice of communities that have been sidelined for too long,” he said.
