Democracy Restored? INEC Begins Process To Reinstate Suppressed Delta Constituencies
By PAULINA NZERUBE
INEC Launches Historic Constituency Restoration Exercise in Delta State
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has launched the formal process for restoring three suppressed Delta State House of Assembly constituencies, an initiative widely regarded as a significant constitutional and democratic milestone aimed at correcting years of underrepresentation and ensuring that affected communities regain their rightful place within the state’s legislative framework.
The proposed restoration affects Isoko North Constituency II, Abraka State Constituency in Ethiope East Local Government Area and Ughelli South Constituency II.
The process officially commenced during a stakeholders’ consultation held at the INEC Conference Hall in Asaba, where political leaders, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, community representatives, youth groups, women organisations, security agencies and media practitioners gathered to deliberate on the implementation framework.
Speaking at the event, Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sir Etekamba Udo Umoren, stated that the restoration exercise reflects INEC’s determination to faithfully implement court judgments and constitutional provisions relating to electoral representation.
He explained that the exercise is designed to strengthen representative democracy by ensuring that communities previously denied full legislative representation are once again adequately represented in the Delta State House of Assembly.
According to him, effective representation remains one of the fundamental pillars of constitutional democracy because elected representatives serve as the direct link between government institutions and citizens.
Umoren stressed that constituency restoration would improve political participation, strengthen public confidence in democratic institutions and enable lawmakers to respond more effectively to the developmental needs of their constituents.
The REC described stakeholder collaboration as essential to the success of the exercise and appealed for maximum cooperation from traditional rulers, political parties, community leaders and residents throughout the restoration process.
He encouraged traditional institutions to use their influence to maintain peace, promote dialogue and educate local communities on the objectives of the exercise.
He also requested the support of local government authorities in facilitating community participation while urging security agencies to maintain law and order and guarantee the peaceful conduct of all activities associated with the restoration programme.
Reaffirming the Commission’s neutrality, Umoren assured residents that INEC would discharge its constitutional responsibilities with fairness, professionalism and complete transparency.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Supervising National Commissioner for Delta State, Deputy Director of Delineation, Mrs. Emem Umoren described the restoration initiative as an important democratic reform capable of strengthening electoral inclusiveness across the state.
She noted that the exercise reinforces the constitutional principle that every Nigerian community deserves equal representation within democratic institutions and should never be excluded from legislative participation because of administrative or historical circumstances.
According to her, restoring the constituencies would not only strengthen democratic governance but also extend the benefits of inclusive political participation to communities that have long sought equitable representation.
She therefore urged all stakeholders to embrace dialogue, fairness and mutual understanding throughout the process to ensure that the exercise achieves its constitutional objectives.
The initiative also received strong endorsement from Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, representing Delta South Senatorial District.
Represented at the meeting by Mr. Felix Ofou, Executive Assistant to the Delta State Governor on New Media, the senator praised INEC for taking practical steps to implement the restoration exercise.
He described the initiative as an important victory for justice, democratic inclusion and constitutional governance.
According to the senator, restoring the constituencies would address longstanding concerns regarding political representation while giving affected communities renewed confidence in Nigeria’s democratic system.
He appealed to residents, community leaders, political stakeholders and civil society organisations to work closely with INEC throughout the consultation process, adding that successful implementation would strengthen democratic governance not only in Delta State but also reinforce confidence in Nigeria’s electoral institutions.
Political observers say the restoration process represents more than constituency delineation. It is a constitutional effort to ensure fairness, strengthen electoral legitimacy and reaffirm the principle that every community deserves an equal voice in governance.
If successfully concluded, the restoration of Isoko North II, Abraka and Ughelli South II could significantly reshape legislative representation in Delta State while reinforcing public trust in constitutional institutions and Nigeria’s democratic process.
