Nigeria’s parliament, the National Assembly has promised to work with the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), to properly delineate electoral constituencies across the country.
Thursday’s promise is coming less than two years to the general election in 2023, and the last delineation of electoral constituencies which witnessed the creation of electoral districts and constituencies across the country held 25 years ago in 1996.
President of the Senate Dr. Ahmad Lawan, assured Nigerians that the exercise, when carried out would enhance democracy as well as provide equitable and fair representation in the nation’s governance structure.
In a meeting with the INEC officials in his office, Dr Lawan further explained that ”having more districts and constituencies would present a level playing field for all Nigerians to elect leaders of their choice at the polls. ”
He underscored the need for the Nigerian government to find a way around getting accurate information about the country’s population size, stressing that such information is significant and critical for the creation of more constituencies in disadvantaged areas.
Dr Lawan said; “The issue of delineation or creation of more electoral constituencies is like the previous one on the polling units. But unlike the polling units, this is going to be more difficult because you need more information, especially on the population.
“[And] because we didn’t have census after the 2006 exercise, now we have to find a way of getting information about our population size because that is very important and significant in taking any decision in that respect.
“But I want to assure you and Nigerians, that we will go all the way with you, to finding solutions on getting the delineation of electoral constituencies done before the end of our tenure.”
“This is one way of giving Nigerians the opportunity to vote for their leaders and we cannot joke with that. We are all products of elections.
“If the delineation of constituencies – whether state or national – will give Nigerians better opportunities and enhance our democracy, and I’m sure it would, we must work hard to do that. So, we would work with you in INEC,” stressed.
The Senate President stated that the exercise for the creation of electoral constituencies had become imperative, particularly against the backdrop of resolving conflicts arising from court verdicts and the provisions of the 1999 constitution as amended.
The INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu said; ”the delineation of constituencies requires an Act of the National Assembly and the major consideration for revision of the country into constituencies is the population quota.”
“The National Assembly has powers under the constitution to actually request INEC to delineate constituencies by an Act of the Assembly. No Act of the National Assembly has asked INEC to delineate constituencies since the last delineation in 1996,” Pressor Yakubu added.
VON