Oyo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended its members in the Federal House of representatives for pushing for the implementation of 8two-year-old judgement of Federal High Court, directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise new eight state constituencies in the state and conduct elections into same.
The News Carrier NG reports that the House of Representatives, on Wednesday, mandated INEC to obey the Court injunction on the restoration of eight state Constituencies across Oyo State, namely: Ibadan North III, Ibadan South-West III, Ibarapa Central, Irepo, Itesiwaju, Oyo East, Saki East and Surulere.
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion jointly sponsored by Hon. Odebunmi Olusegun Dokun, Rep. Akeem Adeyemi, Hon. Olajide Olatunbosun, Hon. Ojerinde Olumide and Hon. Olaide Akinremi, who underscored the need for the operation of the eight State Constituencies to take effect in the succeeding State House of Assembly election under the provision of section 115 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
In his lead debate, Odebunmi stressed the need to uphold the decision of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Ibadan Division on the 8th March 2013 in Attorney General of Oyo State Vs. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ordered INEC to make the restored 8 State Constituencies operational forthwith.
Oyo State APC, in a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Azeez Olatunde, while throwing its weight behind the lawmakers’ move for the implementation of court resolution stated the unnecessary delay by INEC is alarming.
The statement reads in full:
“APC Oyo State would love to humbly plead for the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to obey Federal High Court Judgement of 8 years standing, delivered on the 8th of March 2013,which No equal or superior Court decision has set aside since then”.
“In view of the foregoing, Oyo APC is alarmed at what might be delaying the COMPLIANCE with the Federal High Court order because the delay is violation of the operational provisions of section 91, 112 and 114 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended) and has unlawfully denied the people of Ibadan North, IBSW, Ibarapa Central, Irepo, Itesiwaju, Oyo East, Saki East and Surulere State Constituencies of proper representation in the Oyo State House of Assembly”.
“Section 112 of the Constitution states that INEC shall divide every State in the Federation into such number of State Constituencies as is equal to three or four times the number of Federal Constituencies within the State”
“Section 91 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states inter alia, that the House of Assembly of a State shall consist of three or four times the number of seats the State has in the House of Representatives, divided in a way to reflect as far as possible nearly equal population, provided that a House of Assembly of a state shall consist of not less than twenty four and not more than forty members”.
“Furthermore, Section 114 of the constitution provides that INEC shall review the division of every state into constituencies at intervals of not less than ten years and may alter such Constituencies under the provision of this section to such extent as it may consider desirable in the light of the review”.
“Therefore, considering the fact that Oyo State currently has 32 States Constituencies and 14 Federal Constituencies and believing that, to satisfy the constitutional provisions of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the number of States Constituencies in Oyo State should be 40, being the maximum threshold prescribed by the Constitution”.
“Our interest is further aroused because since the inception of the present democratic dispensation on the 29th of May 1999,INEC has failed to review the number of State Constituencies in Oyo State as prescribed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
“Since Constitution is the Supreme law of the Federation and its provisions are binding on all authorities and persons in Nigeria, including INEC and taking cognisance of the fact that Failure or Refusal of INEC to comply with the 8th of March 2013 Judgement and the provision of the Constitution has deprived the people of Oyo State equitable and fair representation in Oyo State House of Assembly”.
“Finally, we give kudos to the quality ambassadors of Oyo APC in the 9th House of Representatives, which included Hon Segun Odebunmi, Hon Akintola Oluokun, Hon Musliudeen Akinremi, Hon Shina Abiola Peller
Hon Prince Akeem Adeyemi, Hon Olatubosun Olajide, Hon Tolulope Akande Sadipe, Hon Akinola Alabi and Hon Ojerinde Olumide”.
