Politics
Reps mandate INEC to restore suppressed State Constituencies in Ado, Okpokwu, Ogbadibo LGAs of Benue
The Nigerian House of Representatives, on Tuesday, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to urgently restore suppressed State Constituencies in Ado, Okpokwu and Ogbadibo Local Government Areas of Benue State.
This was sequel to a motion brought before it by the Member representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, Philip Agbese.
In the motion seconded by Kelechi Nwogu, member representing Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency of Rivers State, the House also mandated INEC to conduct elections into the state constituencies, when restored, in 2027.
Agbese, while leading a debate on the motion, drew the attention of the House to the fact that each of the three LGAs in his constituency had enjoyed representations with twp distinct State Constituencies, before INEC suspended three out of the six constituencies.
“Historically, prior to certain delimitation exercises in the Fourth Republic, each of Ado, Okpokwu and Ogbadibo Local Government Areas in Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency had two distinct State Constituencies, specifically known as Ado State Constituency 1 & 2; Ogbadibo & Otukpa State Constituencies; and Okpokwu State Constituency 1 & 2; in the Benue State House of Assembly. These reflected their significant landmass, population, number of wards, cultural and administrative identities as key Idoma-speaking communities.
“Concerned that subsequent delimitation and suppression exercises by INEC reduced the representation of these Local Government Areas, resulting in each LGA now having only one State Constituency, hereby forcing large populations and vast territories to be represented by a single member in the Benue State House of Assembly,” Agbese posited.
Agbese, who doubles as Deputy spokesperson of the House, further maintained that “the suppression of these constituencies has negatively impacted the lives and wellbeing of my constituents who are being grossly under-represented in the Benue State House of Assembly, leading to inadequate legislative voice, inequitable access to developmental projects, resources, state attention, and overall marginalization, despite the size and developmental needs of the three LGAs”.
He stressed that the current arrangement runs contrary to the principles of federalism, justice, equity and fair representation, and has led to widespread agitation among the constituents, while reminding the parliament of similar resolutions passed before in the cases of Ukum II, Gboko and Nyamatsor State Constituencies of Benue.
The lawmaker told the House that restoring two State Constituencies to each of Ado, Okpokwu and Ogbadibo LGAs (bringing the total to six, as historically existed) “is necessary to correct injustice, align with demographic realities, and strengthen democratic representation across Benue State”.
In a unanimous decision, the House subsequently urged INEC to restore the Ado II, Okpokwu II and Otukpa State Constituency in Ogbadibo Local Government Area, while directing the empire to activate machineries to ensure elections are conducted into the restored State Constituencies in 2027.
To ensure strict compliance, the House, presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, mandated the Committee on INEC to interface with INEC, Benue State Government, the Attorney-General of the Federation and other relevant stakeholders, to ensure immediate restoration and operationalization of the constituencies.
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Politics
2027: Opposition needs to show capacity – Sambo
Director of News and Political Editor at Arise Television, Sumner Sambo, says the opposition political parties need to show capacity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sambo made this statement on Monday when he appeared as a guest in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’.
He was speaking on the recently concluded Ekiti State governorship election, where the incumbent governor, Abiodun Oyebanji, was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
According to him, the elections have shown that opposition political parties have to put in the work, stressing that they need to show capacity.
“Judging from the political angle of the election in Ekiti, the opposition didn’t give a very good performance.
“We need to question the facts coming out of the election. What exactly was the opposition doing to the extent that results coming out do not reflect what happened in the 2018 and 2022 elections, which were very much intense,” he asked.
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Politics
Bye-election: Kano NDC fires back at Gov Yusuf over comment against party
The Kano State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has responded to recent comments made by the state governor Abba Yusuf, regarding the party’s decision not to field a candidate in the just concluded Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency bye-election.
DAILY POST earlier reported that the governor had, in a statement by his spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, claimed that NDC’s absence from the by-election was a sign that the All Progressives Congress, APC’s would emerge victorious in 2027.
Reacting, the NDC Chairman in Kano State, Hussaini Isa Mai Riga, said the NDC is not distracted by political statements aimed at scoring cheap points.
According to him, the party’s energy is currently directed at building a solid, people-centred structure across all 44 local government areas of Kano State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“NDC is a party of strategy and discipline. Skipping one bye-election does not mean we are weak. It means we are focused on the bigger picture. Our priority is to consolidate our grassroots base, unite our members, and present credible candidates that Kano people can trust in 2027,” he said in a statement by his media aide, Adam Said Adam.
The Chairman emphasised that the party has learned from the political history of Kano and Nigeria at large, and will not waste resources on contests that do not align with its long-term vision. Instead, NDC will invest in mobilisation, political education, and policy development that addresses unemployment, insecurity, and economic hardship facing ordinary citizens.
Mai Riga expressed confidence that with the support of Kano residents and the strength of the Kwankwasiyya movement within the party, NDC will emerge victorious in the next governorship election.
He urged NDC members across Kano to remain calm, avoid provocation, and continue lawful political engagement. He also called on security agencies to remain neutral and ensure a level playing field as political activities intensify.
The NDC Kano Chapter reaffirms its commitment to democratic values, issue-based politics, and delivering good governance to the people of Kano State.
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Politics
2027: We’ll teach Makinde political lesson – Fayose
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said that they will teach Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State a political lesson.
Fayose said this during an interview on Channels Television.
According to him, Makinde has stolen the land of the deities, warning that the deities will retrieve their land from him.
“We will teach Makinde a political lesson. If you respect me, you will get all my values and support, but if you disrespect me, you will get the downside of Fayose. I’m not a politician that is taken for granted.
“Makinde destroyed the South West Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and took my structure. When we are in politics, we are meant to be fair.
“Declaring for presidency was his undoing. He has the right to contest for president but we don’t betray trust. Elections are not far away again. We will get there,” he said.
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