While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently restored several suppressed constituencies across Nigeria, Ughelli South Local Government Area in Delta State remains notably excluded. In June 2026, the commission reinstated 22 seats, including six in Delta, yet failed to address the 11-year-old court mandate regarding Ughelli South. This omission has left local residents questioning the fairness of an agency that prioritizes recent legal rulings while ignoring long-standing judicial directives.
Historically, the area operated with two constituencies, Ughelli South I and II, which allowed for better governance and representation. This structure was recognized during the First and Second Republics, as well as the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999, before INEC unilaterally merged them. This move prompted a decade-long legal battle. In 2014, the Federal High Court in Warri ruled that the suppression of Ughelli South I was illegal, a decision subsequently upheld by both the Court of Appeal in 2015 and the Supreme Court in 2017. Despite these definitive rulings, INEC has consistently failed to reinstate the seat.
Critics suggest that the commission’s selective compliance stems from administrative convenience and political pressure rather than legal merit. While newer court orders for other regions were implemented within days, the 2015 judgment favoring Ughelli South remains ignored. Observers argue that the commission avoids the restoration due to the perceived difficulty of redrawing boundaries and conducting new primaries. Meanwhile, the residents continue to lack the legislative representation they are legally entitled to, highlighting a significant gap between judicial pronouncements and executive execution by the electoral body.
