Court orders INEC to restore two constituencies in Benue

By PETER DURU, Makurdi
Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital has directed the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, to restore two hitherto scrapped state constituencies in Benue state.

The two state constituencies to be restored as ordered by the court are Agasha which is presently in Guma state constituency and Otukpa which is currently under Ogbadibo state constituency.

Delivering judgment in two separate suits filed by the Agasha and Otukpa communities, Justice Abimbola Obasaki pointed out that INEC could not convince the court on why the two constituencies should not be restored.

She therefore ordered  it to conduct election for Otukpa constituency within 14 days while that of Agasha should be done within 30 days.

Justice Obasaki however noted that INEC could approach the appellate court if it were not satisfied with the judgment of the trial court.

Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the Agasha community, John Shishi described it as sound judgment, adding that it was a positive development in the nation’s evolving democracy and an indication that Nigerian judiciary was alive.

Meanwhile, it was celebration galore for members of the would be restore constituencies as most of them that spoke with Saturday Vanguard were optimistic that the constituents would enjoy effective representation at the state assembly.