A member of the House of Representatives from Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa federal constituency, Oyo State, Hon. Shina Peller, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently address the unjust delimitation of his constituencies which he said has been his people’s agitation for years.
Hon. Peller made this call in Iseyin on Tuesday during a stakeholder meeting bordering on eradication of electoral violence organised by the Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Mutiu Agboke.
According to Hon. Peller, Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa federal constituency, which accommodates 42 wards, remains one of the largest in the country both in terms of population and landmass. He therefore described the delimitation of his constituency, compared to others’, as an unfair arrangement which his people want corrected urgently.
While trying to drive home his points, Hon. Peller explained that Iseyin and Itesiwaju local governments are merged as a state constituency, while four local governments he represents at the House of Representatives namely Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Kajola and Iwajowa are merged as a single federal constituency – a situation he said hinders the growth and development of the whole Okeogun region.
Buttressing his claim that the delimitation arrangement is unfair to his people, Hon. Peller further stressed that most states in the federation have at least a member representing each local government at their respective State Assemblies, while most federal constituencies have a maximum of three local governments each.
Furthermore, he argued that even some federal constituencies that cannot withstand Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa federal constituency in terms of population and landmass have just one local government each under them. He added that this arrangement vividly indicates that his people are short-represented compared to other constituencies in the country.
Concluding, Hon. Peller stated that in the spirit of equity, fairness and justice that the constitution of the Federal Government of Nigeria stands for, there is an urgent need for the INEC and federal government to address the unjust delimitation of his constituencies. In other words, he wants Iseyin/Itesiwaju state constituency spilt into a minimum of two state constituencies, and Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa federal constituency split into a minimum of two federal constituencies.
