***Hon. Seyi Bello leads a motion urging INEC to restore suppressed state constituencies in Kogi, with Hon. Prince Zak Otokiti backing the call and highlighting suppression in Okehi, Ihima, and Eika.
In a move aimed at correcting a decades-long under-representation in Kogi State’s political map, Hon. Seyi Bello, the member representing Kabba/Bunu in the Kogi State House of Assembly, moved a bold motion urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restore the suppressed state constituencies in Kogi State, with particular emphasis on Kabba/Bunu II. The motion, presented on the floor of the House this week, was seconded by Hon. Prince Zak Otokiti, the representative for Okehi State Constituency, who asserted that his own constituency had also suffered suppression, along with Ihima and Eika constituencies.
During the discussion, several members rose to speak on behalf of their constituencies, underscoring the breadth of impact the suppression has had on grassroots representation across Kogi’s political landscape. The motion, entitled “Motion on the Need to Urge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Restore the Suppressed State Constituencies in Kogi State in Line with Constitutional Provisions and Court Judgments,” laid out a comprehensive constitutional and legal pedigree to support the demand for restoration.
The text of the motion explained that INEC is mandated by Sections 112, 114 and the Third Schedule, Part I of the Nigerian Constitution to delimit states into constituencies of roughly equal population and to review these divisions at intervals of not less than ten years. It also noted that Section 91 prescribes that the number of seats in a State House of Assembly should be proportional to the number of seats the state holds in the House of Representatives. With Kogi having nine federal constituencies, the constitution requires between 27 and 36 state assembly seats. Yet the state currently has 25, a number considered unconstitutional and inadequate for representative equity.
The motion recounted historical suppression: at statehood’s dawn, Kogi’s first House of Assembly had 32 constituencies; INEC’s 1998 review reduced them to 25, including Kabba-Bunu II, Ijumu II, and several others. The document argued that this under-representation threatens grassroots democracy. It also recalled legal actions taken by the Kogi State government in 2014, which led to a Federal High Court judgment in 2015 ordering INEC to restore six suppressed constituencies in Kogi East. A separate suit by Kabba/Bunu community activists, including Omoluabi Olabode Adeyemi, culminated in a 2015 judgment highlighting the unconstitutional suppression of Kabba-Bunu II, though implementation has lagged.
The motion also referenced a significant development in national policy: on March 19, 2025, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution mandating INEC to restore the suppressed constituencies in Kogi and Delta States, and to ensure compliance through its Committee on Electoral Matters.
The speaker warned that the delay in restoring these constituencies deprives Kogi’s people of their constitutionally guaranteed representation for over two decades and urged that restoration is essential for equitable development, fair political representation, and stronger grassroots governance across all senatorial districts.
Specific prayers asked the House to: (1) urge INEC to commence and complete the delimitation to restore the 12 suppressed constituencies, (2) urge the Kogi State Government to re-engage with INEC with the relevant judgments and National Assembly resolutions as a basis for action, (3) have the Governor appeal directly to INEC and parliamentary committees to expedite delimitation, (4) prioritize Kabba/Bunu II, and (5) direct clerical transmission of the resolutions to INEC, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The motion, dated November 13, 2025, was presented by Hon. Seyi Bello, the Privileged Member representing Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, who urged unanimous support from colleagues to advance a more representative Kogi State. The development signals renewed political momentum in the pursuit of constitutional justice and agricultural-to-urban development equity across Kogi State’s diverse communities.
