HoRs Passes Resolution To Recognise Sapele Federal, State Constituencies

The outcry for recognisation of Sapele Federal Constituency and the two Sapele State Constituencies in Delta State (as stipulated by the 1999 Constitution as amended) may have been answered following a resolution passed by the House of Representatives.

TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the lower chamber directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections for Sapele Federal Constituency and the two-State Constituencies affecting every necessary adjustment to bring the resolution in conformity with the provisions of the Constitution.

The decision is sequel to motion brought to the House by Hon Oberuakpefe Anthony Afe representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

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Leading the debate on the motion, Hon Oberuakpefe Afe argued that Sapele Local Government Council of Delta State had two State Constituencies namely; Sapele Rural and Sapele Urban Constituencies and One Federal Constituency prior to the reconfiguration which is the basis of the general elections in 1998 and subsequent elections.

He expressed concern that Sapele Local Government Area Council is the only local government council in the state that has suffered abridgement from two State Constituencies to one State Constituency and the scrapping of her Federal Constituency while other local government Council of her status migrated from two to more Constituencies.

Hon Afe further informed the House that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC decided that Sapele Federal Constituency be reinstated vide a memo dated 23/5/2004 after series of substantiated presentations from Sapele Local Area Government Council to INEC in 2004.

According to the lawmaker, the decision for reinstatement was duly communicated to the National Assembly for further legislative action as prescribed by the Constitution.

The Member noted that in spite of the well informed and Constitutionally supported communication by INEC to the National Assembly for effective resolution in 2007, the National Assembly failed to act to reinstate Sapele Federal Constituency and the two-State Constituencies.

He said it is worrisome and regrettable that Nigeria has organized and conducted three general elections since INEC communicated its decision to the National Assembly for implementation, yet effect has not been given to the legal and substantiated decision of INEC..

He also informed the House that the Court of Appeal sitting in Benin Judicial Division has made a pronouncement affirming an earlier ruling of the Federal High Court Warri Judicial Division on the matter.

The motion was put to vote by the Speaker, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila and was unanimously adopted by the House.