By EMMANUEL OLONIRUHA

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restored some suppressed constituencies in Benue, Delta, Jigawa and Kogi states, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The commission has also fixed between June 16 and June 25 for political parties to conduct primary elections for the restored constituencies, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, made the disclosure in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.

Haruna said that restoration of the constituencies was pursuant to the court judgments ordering the restoration of some suppressed constituencies in the affected states.

He listed the state constituencies to include: Benue – Nyamatsor, Ukum Afia, Konshisha III (Shangev-Tiev), Makurdi III (South East) and Gboko III, all in Benue.

Others are Aniocha North II, Ika North East II, Sapele II, Ethiope West II, Warri South West II and Warri North II state constituencies of Delta, with Aujara constituency in Jigawa.

The commission also listed Adavi East, Eika, Ajaokuta North, Bassa-Komu, Dekina Town and District, Ijumu II, Kabba-Bunu II, Koton Karfe II, Igala Ogwa, and Ogugu state constituencies in Kogi.

Haruna said that INEC had fixed June 16 to June 25 for the conduct of political party primaries in the restored constituencies.

This, he said, was to facilitate the participation of the restored constituencies in the 2027 general elections, particularly with respect to the nomination of candidates by political parties.

“For the avoidance of doubt, all other timelines and activities contained in the already published revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections shall apply to the restored constituencies.

“In light of the peculiar nature of this arrangement, political parties are requested to submit notices of political party primaries to the commission prior to the scheduled date for the primaries,” he said.

The INEC national commissioner also reiterated the commission’s commitment to ensuring credible, inclusive and transparent electoral processes in the country. (NAN)

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