ASABA/Nigeria: Three previously suppressed State House of Assembly constituencies in Delta State are set to regain legislative representation as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) begins the process of restoring the constituencies in line with court judgments and constitutional provisions.
The constituencies are Isoko North Constituency II, Abraka State Constituency in Ethiope East Local Government Area, and Ughelli South Constituency II, all of which have remained without separate representation following earlier electoral adjustments.
The development was announced on Friday during a stakeholders’ engagement in Asaba by the Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Sir Etekamba Udo Umoren, who described the restoration exercise as part of the commission’s constitutional responsibility to ensure equitable representation for affected communities.
Umoren said the exercise was designed to strengthen representative democracy by restoring the affected constituencies to the Delta State House of Assembly, thereby giving residents broader opportunities for political participation and representation.
According to him, the restoration is being undertaken in compliance with existing court judgments and relevant constitutional provisions, reaffirming INEC’s commitment to the rule of law and credible electoral administration.
He noted that the commission’s technical team would work closely with stakeholders throughout the exercise to ensure that the restoration process is transparent, inclusive and acceptable to the affected communities.
The REC called on traditional rulers, community leaders, local government authorities, political parties, civil society organisations, women and youth groups to cooperate with the commission by providing accurate information and encouraging peaceful participation.
He also appealed to security agencies to provide the necessary support to guarantee a peaceful environment throughout the restoration process.
Umoren assured residents of Isoko North II, Abraka and Ughelli South II that INEC would conduct the exercise with impartiality, professionalism and transparency, expressing confidence that collaboration among stakeholders would ensure a successful outcome.
Delivering a keynote address on behalf of the Supervising National Commissioner for Delta State, the Deputy Director of Delineation, Mrs. Emem Umoren, described the restoration as an important step towards strengthening democratic representation in the state.
She said the exercise reflects the constitutional principle that every community deserves fair and effective representation in government and urged stakeholders to approach the process with openness, fairness and a shared commitment to the public interest.
The stakeholders’ engagement brought together traditional rulers, political leaders, elected officials, security agencies, civil society organisations, community representatives, women and youth groups, as well as members of the media to discuss the implementation of the restoration process.
