The Kogi State House of Assembly has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission( INEC) to adopt a transparent, uniform and verifiable methodology in the creation of additional electoral wards across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
The call was made in a motion sponsored by *Hon. Jibril Onoru-Oiza Abu*, Member representing Ajaokuta State Constituency, and presented during plenary
Moving the motion titled _“On The Equitable, Transparent and Orderly Creation of Electoral Wards in Kogi State”_, Hon. Abu said the exercise must be guided by law and evidence, not politics or influence.
He cited *Section 40(1) of the Electoral Act 2022* which provides that each LGA shall have not fewer than 10 and not more than 20 wards “as the circumstances of the Local Government Area may require.”
“Let the same yardstick measure every LGA,” he stated. “If the evidence supports ten, let it be ten. If it supports fifteen, let it be fifteen. If it supports twenty, let it be twenty. But let no LGA receive twenty because it is powerful, and let no deserving LGA receive less because it is quiet.”
He listed Ajaokuta, Lokoja, Adavi, Okehi, Dekina, Ankpa, Okene, Olamaboro, Ibaji and Ofu as LGAs that should receive priority consideration based on “substantial representational pressure.”
Making a specific case for Ajaokuta, Hon. Abu noted that the LGA had *96,504 registered voters in 2023* and with a projected 50% increase, the figure could rise to *144,756*. With only 14 wards currently, he urged INEC to consider the creation of *six additional wards to bring Ajaokuta to the statutory maximum of 20*.
The Assembly also mandated its relevant Committee to obtain and examine INEC’s data and report back on the transparency, legality and equity of the proposed exercise.
Members ,one after the other took turns to contribute, pointing out the importance of the motion but specifically called for equity and transparency even as each of them explained that their constituencies need more wards .
Responding, the Speaker, Rt Hon Aliyu Umar Yusuf who described it as a laudable exercise , said the right criteria for wards creation as enshrined in the construction should be put into consideration. According to him ,the voting strength of the area, equity , transparency and others are expected to be considered so that the exercise will not be attributed to political influence at the detriment of those without God fathers.
The House in its resolution supported the prayers
