Remarks By His Excellency, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, Oon (Garkuwan Doma), Executive Governor Of Nasarawa State, During The Courtesy Call By The Inec Constituency Delimitation Team To Nasarawa State, Wednesday, 13th August, 2008

 
PROTOCOL

I am delighted to welcome the leader and members of the Independent National Electoral Commission Constituency Delimitation Team to Nasarawa State on the occasion of the stakeholders interactive sessions on constituency delimitation.

This exercise, I believe, is significant, because it is in line with our efforts to address the socio-political expectations of our people. This will provide the platform for the stability and sustainability of our democracy under the framework of fair and equitable representation.

You will agree with me that constituency delimitation is an exercise that has far-reaching political and legal implications. To this extent, your assignment is indeed as enormous, as it is challenging.

I am aware that this exercise comes once in ten years as provided by the Constitution. It is for this reason that we welcome your assignment as a rare opportunity for us to bring to light once more the political deprivation suffered by the people of Nasarawa State as a result of miscarriage of justice by the 1998 delimitation exercise.

Against this background, I will like to assure you that the Government and people of Nasarawa State appreciate the efforts of INEC in reviewing Federal and State Constituencies, as well as the creation of more Wards and Polling Units.

Because of the importance we attach to this exercise and the collective desire of our people, the State Government set-up a High-Powered Committee to collate and articulate the views of the Government and people of the State for submission to INEC.

Following the outcome of the Committee’s assignment, it is important to emphasize that the position of Nasarawa State on the review of constituencies is predicated on some fundamental considerations, such as:

1. The need to correct the miscarriage of justice occasioned by the 1998 delimitation exercise. That exercise should have given Nasarawa State a minimum of six (6) Federal Constituencies as required by Section 112 of the 1999 Constitution. Instead, only five (5) constituencies were allocated to us.

The pre-eminent position of Nasarawa State in the country in terms of its proximity to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). We are all aware that from 1990 to date, the State has witnessed unprecedented and steady migration of people from all-over Nigeria and other countries to Nasarawa State. For instance, the records of the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) indicate that Karu has a population growth index of 45% annually, making it among the highest in the world!

The boost in the population of Lafia, the state capital, after the creation of the State.

Demolition exercises in the Federal Capital Territory have continued to force people to move from Abuja to Nasarawa State for settlement on daily basis.

Ladies and gentlemen, in appraising the terms of reference of the Committee, we note that the issue of population is a factor in the delimitation exercise, although there are equally other weighty considerations.

Permit me at this juncture therefore, to take a little time to state our concern over the 2006 Population Census, which did not present the true population status of Nasarawa State. The figure of 1.8 million released by the National Population Commission (NPC) is contestable and unacceptable to us. You may wish to note that the State Government has already registered its protest at the Census Tribunal in this regard.

In the circumstance, we will like to appeal to INEC to adopt the 1991 projected population figure of 2.5 million as at 2006 as the parameter for its assignment. We believe that an objective study of demographic and population movement to the State in the last 12 years, justifies this request.

Accordingly, and all issues considered, Nasarawa State is requesting for increase in the number of Federal and State Constituencies, as well as Wards and Polling Units, as follows:

Federal Constituencies

Five (5) additional Federal Constituencies based on the following factors:

A. The need to restore and correct the anomaly in the Nasarawa North Senatorial district where the Federal Constituency is conterminous with the Senatorial District.

B. Redressing the unjustifiable reduction of Federal constituencies from Eight (8) in 1991 to Five (5) in the 1998 delimitation exercise.

C. The phenomenal increase in the population of Lafia, the State capital and Karu LGA.

State Constituencies

The people of Nasarawa State are requesting for 10 additional State constituencies, based on:

A. Increase in population and number of registered voters, particularly in Lafia and Karu axes.

B. The need to have fair representation for two LGAs (Wamba and Keana) which presently have only one State constituency each.

Registration Areas

Here, Nasarawa State is asking for a total of 395 registration areas instead of the existing 147. This is to allay the fear of domination, facilitate easy registration of voters and overcome barriers caused by geographical location and other peculiarities.

Polling Units

Our communities are also requesting for 608 additional polling units across the State, based on:

A. The need to restore the polling units cancelled by INEC in 1991 for undisclosed reasons.

B. To address the issues of geographical peculiarities, and

C. Increase in voter population.

In conclusion, let me reiterate that the people of Nasarawa have suffered enormous deprivation over the years due to injustice in the creation of Federal and State constituencies, as well as Ward and Polling Units. I trust that INEC, this time around, would correct these anomalies in the interest of justice and fairplay thereby placing Nasarawa State in its rightful position in the scheme of things in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

On this note, it is my pleasure to present to INEC the views and recommendations of the Government and people of Nasarawa State on constituency delimitation.

I wish INEC every success in this all important exercise.

Thank you and God bless.