Member representing, Irepo/Olorunsogo, Hon. Ayinde Waliu has moved a motion to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to review the 32 constituencies in Oyo State in line with constitutional provision.
He made the appeal on Tuesday while reading a Motion titled ” Need for Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to review constituencies in Oyo State.
The motion was co-sponsored by Hons. B.O. Adeola (Iseyin/Itesiwaju), R.G. Saminu (Atisbo/Saki -East), O.C. Rahman (Oyo East/ Oyo West), P.G. Ojedokun (Ibarapa Central/North) and A.A. Ogundare (Ogo-Oluwa/Surulere.
The lawmaker said since one of the criteria for constituency delimitation is increase in population, then Oyo State deserves to have more State Constituencies.
” Noteworthy also that the basis or criteria for constituencies delimitation in Nigeria is population strengthen and equality of state. That is why the 109 senatorial districts in Nigeria are based on 3 senatorial districts per State (36 states x 3) = 108 and 1 senatorial district for Federal Capital Territory which is equal 109 senatorial districts (equality of state) while the 360 Federal constituencies and States Assembly constituencies are based on population (population strength). It is against this background that the population figure of Oyo State as at 1991 census conducted by National Population Commission (NPC) prior to the draft 1999 constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria was used as basis for approving 32 state constituencies across the 33 Local Governments in the State by the electoral body.
” Further notes that 33 years down the lines (1991 – 2024) one could have imagined the astronomic increase in the population figure of each of the Local Government in the State. For instance, the 1991 census figure put Oyo state population at 3,452,720 while the 2006 census figure was 5, 580,894 which is about 62% (percent) increase compare to 1991 census. However, the population projection of the Oyo State as at 2016 was 7,840,900. The Rt. Hon. Speaker sir, these are enough justifications for speedy consideration by INEC to review the State constituencies in Oyo state.
” Aware that with the present astronomic increases in the population of each of the local government according to 2006 census figure and the projected figure in 2016, there are some constituencies in the State that produced a Honourable Member representing two local governments. For example, the following are joint local governments that produce a single Honourable member in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Atisbo and Saki East Local Government, Irepo and Olorunsogo Local Government where a member is representing the two local governments, Iseyin and Itesiwaju Local Governments, Oyo East and Oyo West Local Governments, Surelere and Ogo-Oluwa Local Governments, and Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North Local Governments.
” Whereas there are some single Local Government that produces 2 (two) Honourable Members e.g. Ibadan South-West Local Government, Ibadan South- East Local Government, Akinyele Local Government to mention just but a few.”
Hon. Waliu Ayinde stressed that since 25years of democratic experience in Nigeria, INEC has not reviewed the number of State Constituencies in the country, adding that Oyo State just like many other States are long overdue for review.
The House therefore resolved to call on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to comply with the provisions of Sections 91 and 112-115 of the 1999 Constitution as amended to review the 32 State Constituencies upward.
” This will enable INEC to grant State Assembly slots to each of the following local governments initially joined together. They are Atisbo and Saki East State constituency, Irepo and Olorunsogo State constituency, Iseyin and itesiwaju State Constituency, Oyo East and Oyo West State Constituency, Surulere and Ogooluwa State Constituency and Ibarapa Central and North State Constituency.