INEC Begins Process To Restore 20 Suppressed Constituencies In Delta, Three Other States

By Our Reporters

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced technical processes aimed at restoring 20 state constituencies previously suppressed following court orders across four states, with a detailed activity schedule now released to guide the exercise.

In a directive dated April 30, 2026, and signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, INEC disclosed that the affected constituencies are located in Kogi (11), Delta (4), Benue (5), and Jigawa (1) states.

The Commission stated that the decision was reached at its meeting held on the same day, marking the beginning of a structured process to address issues surrounding constituency delineation in compliance with judicial rulings.

As part of the rollout, INEC unveiled a timeline of activities set to commence on Monday, May 4, 2026, with the arrival of the headquarters contingent in the affected states. This will be followed on Tuesday, May 5, by a stakeholders’ meeting scheduled for 10:00 a.m., involving relevant stakeholders and members of the headquarters team. Later that day, by 3:00 p.m., there will be a training session for state contingents on the methodology to be deployed for the exercise.

Fieldwork is expected to begin in earnest on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, with both headquarters and state teams participating in data collection across the affected constituencies.

INEC explained that the exercise would involve stakeholder engagement at state headquarters and extensive field operations aimed at gathering accurate geographical and demographic data necessary for the production and validation of constituency maps and other technical documents.

To ensure effective implementation, the Commission directed Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in the affected states to liaise with key stakeholders, including traditional institutions, community leaders, and security agencies. They are also to provide administrative and logistical support, ensure adequate security for personnel and equipment, and nominate qualified officers to work with the headquarters’ technical teams.

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The Commission further specified the required number of state personnel for the exercise: Benue State will provide five staff, Kogi six, Jigawa two, and Delta four. INEC noted that nominees must include at least one staff member from each affected Local Government Area.

The constituencies slated for restoration include Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okehi, Ankpa, Bassa, Dekina, Ijumu, Kabba/Bunu, and Kogi/Koton-Karfe in Kogi State; Ethiope West, Sapele, and Ika North East in Delta State; Ukum, Konshisha (Gaav), Gboko, Makurdi, and Buruku in Benue State; and Jahun in Jigawa State.

INEC emphasized that the restoration process is a critical step toward strengthening electoral representation and ensuring compliance with court directives, reaffirming its commitment to credible and inclusive elections across the country.