By Olugbenga Salami
The headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Abuja was the scene of a peaceful protest on Thursday as the Igala Youths Council and several civil society organisations, CSOs demanded protection for newly created constituencies in Kogi East.
The demonstrators accused the Kogi State Government of moves to abolish constituencies recently gazetted by the INEC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions, they urged the commission to preserve what they described as constitutionally recognised constituencies established through delineation exercises in 2024 and 2026.
Speaking for the group, spokesperson Onogu Collins said the protest was necessary to prevent any attempt to undermine the right of Kogi East communities to fair representation. The group is particularly concerned about alleged efforts to suppress the Enjema State Constituency in Ankpa Local Government Area through a proposed Harmonization Bill.
“We are here peacefully to call on INEC to defend the integrity of the newly gazetted constituencies in Kogi East,” Collins said.
The protesters argued that the creation of additional constituencies was meant to address years of political imbalance and underrepresentation in the area.
They warned that reversing the constituencies would deny affected communities access to democratic participation and developmental opportunities, describing it as marginalisation.
INEC National Commissioner, Professor Abdullahi Abduzuru, who received the protesters, assured them that the commission would review the concerns raised.
“We’ll examine all the issues you have presented and respond appropriately, not just to you but to Nigerians as well,” he said.
Security personnel monitored the protest, which ended without incident.
The demonstrators expressed confidence that INEC would safeguard the newly gazetted constituencies ahead of the next general elections.
