The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday mandated the restoration of Aniocha North II State Constituency in Delta State, affirming a 2019 Supreme Court judgment that ordered the reinstatement of the constituency. The resolution calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to implement the restoration in the next Delta State House of Assembly elections following the expiration of the current legislative term, in compliance with Section 115 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The decision followed a motion by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), who highlighted the prolonged legal battle initiated in 2014 by nine communities in Aniocha North Local Government Area. The towns—Idumuje-Unor, Idumuje-Ugboko, Nkwu-Nzu, Ugboba, Idumuogo, Ugbodu, Ubulubu, Anioma, and Ogodo—sought to reclaim their separate state constituency, which had been merged into a single constituency, Aniocha North, since 2004. Recall that the Federal High Court in Asaba initially dismissed the case in 2014, the Court of Appeal in Benin City ruled in favor of the communities in November 2017, directing INEC to restore the constituency and conduct elections. INEC’s attempt to appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court in November 2019, which upheld the appellate court’s decision as final. Despite INEC’s stakeholder engagement in November 2020 and a subsequent report to the National Assembly, the constituency remains unrecognized. Senator Nwoko emphasized that the delay undermines the rule of law, disenfranchises voters, and denies the communities representation in the Delta State Assembly. The Senate however, urged INEC to expedite the restoration process and requested the House of Representatives’ concurrence to fulfill constitutional requirements. The resolution stresses that the constituency’s revival should take effect in the next electoral cycle, ensuring compliance with legal and procedural frameworks. The move addresses long standing grievances over political marginalization and reinforces judicial authority in electoral matters. Stakeholders await INEC’s action to rectify the anomaly and restore democratic representation for the affected communities.
