By Mokobia Rita.
ASABA/Nigeria: Political parties in Delta State now have less than two weeks to produce candidates for three State House of Assembly seats returning to the electoral map after years of suppression, following the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to hold elections in the constituencies on September 19.
The constituencies, Abraka, Isoko North II and Ughelli South II, were among four State Assembly constituencies in Delta and Kogi states restored by INEC following court judgments directing their reinstatement. Yagba West II in Kogi State is the fourth.
While the restoration settles the question of whether the constituencies will return to the electoral framework, attention has now shifted to the political contest that will determine who occupies the seats.
INEC has given political parties August 21 to 25 to conduct primaries for the restored constituencies, leaving parties with a short window to settle their internal contests, select candidates and begin preparations for the September 19 election.
The commission announced the new timetable in a statement issued on Friday by its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.
The development follows an earlier stakeholders’ engagement in Asaba in July, when INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Delta, Etekamba Udo Umoren, said the restoration process was aimed at returning legislative representation to communities affected by the suppression of the constituencies.
Umoren had described the exercise as a constitutional obligation arising from court judgments and urged political parties, traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to cooperate with the commission.
With INEC now formally restoring the seats, the next major test will be how quickly political parties can reorganise their structures in the affected areas.
The commission said the August 21–25 primaries would run alongside party primaries for bye-elections in the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe State, Disina and Sakwa State Constituencies in Bauchi State, Udu State Constituency in Delta State and Dawakin Kudu State Constituency in Kano State.
Political parties intending to contest the restored seats are required to notify INEC of their primaries before the scheduled dates.
The commission also made clear that the restoration of the constituencies does not alter the other provisions of its revised timetable for the 2027 general elections.
“For the avoidance of doubt, all other timelines and activities contained in the already published revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election shall apply to the restored Constituencies,” INEC said.
The return of the three constituencies is significant for the affected communities because it creates the opportunity for voters to elect lawmakers specifically for the restored seats.
For communities in Abraka, Isoko North II and Ughelli South II, the immediate issue is therefore no longer simply the restoration of the constituencies, but the selection of candidates and the September 19 ballot that will determine their new representatives.
The September election will also provide an early indication of the political strength of the parties and their grassroots structures in the affected areas as preparations for the wider 2027 electoral cycle continue.
INEC said it remained committed to conducting the elections in accordance with the law and urged political parties and other stakeholders to comply with the approved timetable and electoral guidelines.
