The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restored 22 state constituencies across Benue, Delta, Jigawa, and Kogi states, and scheduled June 16 to June 25, 2026, for political parties to conduct primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The restoration follows court judgments directing the electoral body to reinstate constituencies that had been suppressed for years, thereby enabling affected communities to elect representatives into their respective state Houses of Assembly.
Details of Restored Constituencies
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, announced in a statement on Wednesday that the commission acted in line with constitutional provisions and the Electoral Act, 2026.
According to him, the restored constituencies in Benue State are Nyamatsor, Ukum Afia, Konshisha III (Shangev-Tiev), Makurdi III (South East), and Gboko III.
In Delta State, the restored constituencies include Aniocha North II, Ika North East II, Sapele II, Ethiope West II, Warri South West II, and Warri North II.
For Kogi State, the commission restored Adavi East, Eika, Ajaokuta North, Bassa-Komu, Dekina Town and District, Ijumu II, Kabba-Bunu II, Koton Karfe II, Igalaogwa, and Ogugu. In Jigawa State, Aujara constituency was restored.
Timeline for Primaries
To facilitate the participation of the restored constituencies in the 2027 elections, INEC stated that political parties would conduct primaries between June 16 and June 25, 2026, to nominate candidates for the seats.
The commission added that all other timelines and activities contained in the revised timetable for the 2027 general election would apply to the affected constituencies.
INEC also directed political parties to submit notices of their primaries before the scheduled dates due to the special nature of the exercise.
Background and Court Orders
INEC's decision follows a series of court cases by communities that argued they had been denied constitutional representation for years.
Earlier this year, a Federal High Court in Lokoja ordered INEC to restore and conduct elections in several suppressed constituencies in Kogi State. The court held that the affected areas were entitled to representation in the state House of Assembly and ruled that elections must be conducted in the constituencies during the 2027 general election.
Similarly, the Court of Appeal ordered the restoration of constituencies in Benue State, while the Senate also urged INEC to comply with judicial decisions requiring the electoral body to conduct elections in the affected areas ahead of the 2027 polls.
Technical Processes
In April, INEC commenced technical processes for the restoration of the constituencies, including stakeholder consultations, fieldwork, constituency mapping, and collection of demographic and geographical data needed for electoral planning.
The commission said the exercise was aimed at ensuring proper delineation and effective implementation of the court orders.
