House of Reps Orders INEC to Obey Court Ruling On Oyo Assembly Seats

The House of Representatives on Wednesday instructed Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to respect the Court order on the restoration of eight state Constituencies across Oyo State, namely: Ibadan North III, Ibadan South-West III, Ibarapa Central, Irepo, Itesiwaju, Oyo East, Saki East and Surulere.

The resolution was approved following the adoption of a motion that was sponsored by Hon. Odebunmi Olusegun Dokun, Rep. Akeem Adeyemi, Hon. Olajide Olatunbosun, Hon. Ojerinde Olumide and Hon. Olaide Akinremi emphasized the necessity for the operation of the eight State Constituencies to take effect in the next State House of Assembly election under the provision of section 115 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

Leading the debate, Odebunmi intensified the necessity to endorse the decision of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Ibadan Division on the 8th March 2013 in Attorney General of Oyo State Vs. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ordered INEC to make the restored 8 State Constituencies operational from henceforth.

While noting that there is a substantive judgement to restore the constituencies, Odebunmi expressed dissatisfaction over the disobedience of the Independent National Electoral Commission towards the Court injunction.

“The House is aware that, from the day of Judgment till date, no equal or superior court has set aside the Court decision under reference.

“The House House is disturbed that delay in complying with the order of the Federal High Court to make the restored 8 State Constituencies in Oyo State operational violates the provisions of section 91 and 115 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and has unlawfully denied people in Ibadan North ll, Ibadan South-West all, Ibarapa Central, Irepo, Itesiwaju, Oyo East, Saki East and Surulere State Constituencies of their right to proper representation in the Oyo State House of Assembly.”

To this end, the House approved the restoration of Ibadan North III, Ibadan South-West III, Ibarapa Central, Irepo, Itesiwaju, Oyo East, Saki East and Surulere State Constituencies as ordered by the Federal High Court.

In his verdict, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase who calmed the minds of members whose constituencies have been affected by the same situation revealed that there is a motion in progress to give the issue a national audience, and this will give it a permanent solution.

In respect to this, the House ordered the House Committee on Electoral Matters to ensure compliance