Oyo state : Reps ask INEC to create more constituencies in line with Constitution
By Kassim Omomia
Sequel to a motion demanding for increased constituencies in Oyo state, the House of Representatives has consequently directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to obey provisions of the 1999 constitution(amended) and create more constituencies in all the affected states across the country.
The lawmakers therefore urge INEC to comply specifically with sections 112-114 of the constitution and begin the review of the state constituencies nationwide, in a motion sponsored by Honorable Ajibola Muraina and 13 others, which originally requested for increased number of constituencies in Oyo state.
Debating the general principles of the motion, Hon. Muraina, noted “that section 112 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) provides that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shall divide every state in the Federation into such number of State Constituencies as is equal to three or four times the number of Federal Constituencies within the State”.
“Section 91 of the same constitution provides that the House of Assembly of a State shall consist of three or four times the number of seats the State has 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 twenty–four and not more than forty members”.
In addition, he said “section 114 of the constitution also provides that INEC shall review the division of every state into constituencies at intervals of not less than ten years, and may alter such constituencies under the provisions of the section to such extent as it may consider desirable in the light of the review.
According to him, Oyo State currently has thirty–two (32) State Constituencies and fourteen (14) Federal constituencies, and in compliance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the State ought to have its constituencies increased to 40, being the maximum benchmark approved by the Constitution.
“Since the inception of the present democratic dispensation on 29 May 1999, INEC has failed to review the number of State Constituencies in Oyo State as prescribed by the Constitution which is the supreme law of the Federation and its provisions are binding on all authorities and persons in Nigeria” he noted, adding the failure to do what is in the status, has short-changed the people of his state of equal representation in the state assembly.
He observed that the failure or refusal of INEC to comply with the provisions of the Constitution deprives the people of Oyo State of equitable and fair representation in the State House of Assembly.
Muraina argued further that, that for INEC to carry out the exercise requires approval of the National Assembly which he seeks, so that the process can commence in earnest before the next general elections.
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