By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
National Assembly (NASS) members have pledged to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delineate electoral constituencies nationwide before the 2023 ballot, to update the last exercise done 25 years ago.
The delineation in 1996 created electoral districts and constituencies. Going by the Constitution, the INEC cannot delineate voting areas without an Act of the NASS.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan promised the NASS will assist the INEC when a delegation led by its Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, visited him in his office in Abuja.
Lawan said electoral constituency delineation enhances democracy and provides equitable and fair representation in governance structure, because more districts and constituencies create a level playing field for voters to elect leaders of their choice.
He stressed the need for the government to get accurate information about the size of the population as this is critical for the creation of additional constituencies in disadvantaged areas.
Importance of constituency delineation
His words: “The issue of delineation or creation of more electoral constituencies is like the previous one on the polling units. But unlike 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.
“It is not going to be easy by no means, but we sit here as parliamentarians to deal with the issues of developing Nigeria and, of course, elections determine a lot of things in this country and, indeed, in any country.
“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.”
Lawan said the creation of electoral constituencies is imperative against the backdrop of conflicts arising from court verdicts and provisions of the Constitution.
“Are we going to respect what the Constitution provides for, or discount constitutional provision and respect what the courts would ask INEC to do?
“We have to settle that, even for the sake of protecting you and going extremely legal, so that we don’t create difficulties going forward.
“But we must resolve this, because it is time. Since 1996 when the current electoral districts and constituencies were created, there [has been] no such exercise.”
A difficult call
Lawan did not blame former NASS sessions for not considering the request from the INEC, saying, “it is really a difficult call to make”, but expressed the determination of the current NASS to deal with the issues.
“Even in the National Assembly, I’m sure when it is brought before the Chambers, it will require a lot of horse trading and, of course, consultations, give-and-take, but that is what politics is all about.
“And we have to be patriotic enough to look at the need and necessity for giving people who are suppressed.
“Because if you have constituencies that are suppressed or that should have existed but … are not there anymore, it means the environment is not the kind of ideal environment where representation will be fair and equitable.”
Lawan gave an assurance that the Senate and the NASS will work with the INEC “assiduously” to help create the new constituencies, so that “there will be elections in those constituencies with other areas that are already there by 2023.”
NASS power over delineation
Yakubu said constituency delineation requires an Act of the NASS, adding that “the major consideration for revision of the country into constituencies is the population quota.”
He reiterated that the NASS has powers under the Constitution to make an Act that requests the INEC to delineate constituencies.
“No Act of the National Assembly has asked INEC to delineate constituencies since the last delineation in 1996,” he added.
