The Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restore and conduct elections in suppressed state constituencies in Kogi State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Delivering judgment, Justice Isa Dashen held that it is mandatory for INEC to restore the affected constituencies and conduct elections to guarantee proper representation in the Kogi State House of Assembly.
The court’s decision follows growing concerns over the current composition of the Assembly, which has only 25 members.
TVC News had earlier reported that a group, Concerned Citizens, called on INEC to urgently restore 11 suppressed constituencies— one in Kogi East, six in Kogi Central, and four in Kogi West—saying the move is necessary to ensure equitable representation and strengthen democratic governance in the state.
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The group argued that the current structure of the Assembly violates Section 91 of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates that state Houses of Assembly must have between 27 and 36 members based on federal constituency representation.
Lead counsel to the petitioner, Barrister Ayo Jonathan, welcomed the judgment and urged INEC to conduct elections in the suppressed constituencies, while the plaintiff, Chairman of Kabba-Bunu Local Government, Barrister Zacchaeus Michael, said the ruling affirms that the people’s concerns have been heard.
INEC is yet to issue an official response to the court ruling.
