By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
A rights activist and publisher in Kogi State, Prince Ogungbemi, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of failing to comply with a court order directing the restoration of Yagba West I and Yagba West II State Constituencies, describing their continued exclusion as a violation of constitutional rights and fair representation.
Ogungbemi, who is the Publisher of The Policy and Lawmakers Magazine, made the allegation on Friday during a press conference in Lokoja, where he raised concerns over what he described as the continued suppression of duly recognized constituencies despite judicial pronouncements.
He said the people of Yagba West have endured decades of political marginalisation since the return to democratic governance in 1999, insisting that the exclusion of the two constituencies has denied residents adequate representation in the Kogi State House of Assembly.
According to him, Yagba West I and Yagba West II were created in 1991 and participated in elections before being excluded from subsequent electoral arrangements, a development he said must be reversed in the interest of justice and equity.
Ogungbemi urged INEC to fully comply with the judgment of the Federal High Court in Lokoja in Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/01/2026, which ordered the commission to restore and conduct elections in all suppressed constituencies in Kogi State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He recalled that Justice Isah Danshan, in the ruling, declared the suppression of the affected constituencies unlawful and directed INEC to reinstate them in line with constitutional provisions.
The activist also referenced an INEC press statement dated June 10, 2026, titled “Conduct of Party Primaries in the Restored Constituencies in Benue, Delta, Jigawa and Kogi States for the Election,” which he said indicated that the commission had begun steps to conduct elections in some restored constituencies.
However, he faulted the exclusion of Yagba West I and Yagba West II from the ongoing restoration process, arguing that it contradicted an earlier INEC letter dated April 30, 2026, which approved technical preparations for the restoration of court-ordered suppressed constituencies across Kogi, Delta, Benue and Jigawa states.
He noted that the document reportedly covered 20 constituencies nationwide, including 11 in Kogi State, questioning why the Yagba West constituencies were left out of the implementation process.
Ogungbemi further argued that, in line with Section 91 of the 1999 Constitution, Kogi State should have more constituencies than are currently recognized to ensure fair and equitable representation across all senatorial districts.
He therefore called on INEC to urgently review its position and include Yagba West I and Yagba West II in the list of constituencies to be restored ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to him, doing so would uphold constitutional order, strengthen democratic inclusion, and correct what he described as a long-standing injustice against the people of Yagba West Local Government Area.