The Senate has urged the Independent National Eleementctoral Commission (INEC) to restore Aniocha North II State Constituency in Delta State, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s judgment in Suit No. SC/129/2019.
The resolution was passed on Tuesday following a motion by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), who highlighted the prolonged legal battle over the constituency’s existence. He recounted that although a Federal High Court initially dismissed the case in 2014, the Court of Appeal overturned the decision in 2017, and the Supreme Court upheld the restoration of the constituency in 2019.
Despite INEC’s commitment to implementing the ruling and notifying the National Assembly in 2020, the constituency remains excluded from electoral processes, effectively disenfranchising its residents.
The Senate, in its resolution, also called for the constituency’s inclusion in the next Delta State House of Assembly elections and agreed to seek the concurrence of the House of Representatives, as stipulated under Section 115 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Senators across party lines unanimously backed the motion, emphasizing the need to uphold judicial decisions and protect democratic representation. Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the motion to a voice vote, which was overwhelmingly approved.
The resolution is a significant legislative push to ensure compliance with judicial rulings and restore political representation to the affected constituency.
