A Federal High Court, sitting in Lokoja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to restore and conduct elections in suppressed constituencies in Kogi State.
Delivering his judgement, Justice Isah A. Danshan of the Federal High Court Lokoja, declared as mandatory for elections to be conducted in those suppressed constituencies.
Danshan lamented the injustice over the years, as available facts point to the existence of those constituencies at the creation of the State, and consequently ordered the restoration of the cancelled electoral constituencies.
Justice Dansha ruled that the independent national electoral commission must without hesitation conduct elections in the suppressed constituencies in 2027.
In his reaction, Ayo Jonathan, the lead legal counsel to the petitioners expressed satisfaction with the judgment. Mr. Jonathan urged INEC to obey the judgment by conducting elections in the suppressed constituencies in the state.
In his reaction, Zacchaeus Michael, Executive Chairman, Kabba Bunu LGA, who dragged INEC, the Kogi State Government and House of Assembly to court, said the cry of the people of the state over the suppressed constituencies has been heard.
Jonathan called on INEC to obey the court judgement without further delay by starting the process to conduct elections to the deserving constituencies, insisting that the injustice over the years has been corrected
He lauded the judiciary for standing by the people of the suppressed constituencies and lauded the judgment as worthy of commendation.
With the judgment, the Independent National Electoral Commission is expected to conduct elections in 36 Constituencies in 2027.