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ABUJA, Nigeria – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially restored 22 state constituencies that had been suppressed for years, following a series of court judgments mandating the electoral body to reinstate representation for affected communities.

Among the restored constituencies are six in Delta State: Aniocha North II, Ika North East II, Sapele II, Ethiope West II, Warri South West II, and Warri North II. Other restored constituencies span Benue, Kogi, and Jigawa states.

INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, announced the decision in a statement on Wednesday, emphasizing that the commission acted in line with constitutional provisions and the Electoral Act, 2026.

“Pursuant to the judgment of the courts directing the restoration of some suppressed constituencies in Benue, Delta, Jigawa and Kogi States, and in line with the powers conferred on the Commission by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2026, the Commission has restored the following State Constituencies,” Haruna said.

The full list includes Nyamatsor, Ukum Afia, Konshisha III (Shangev-Tiev), Makurdi III (South East), and Gboko III in Benue State; Aujara in Jigawa State; and Adavi East, Eika, Ajaokuta North, Bassa-Komu, Dekina Town and District, Ijumu II, Kabba-Bunu II, Koton Karfe II, Igalaogwa, and Ogugu in Kogi State.

To enable the restored constituencies to participate in the 2027 general elections, INEC directed political parties to conduct primaries between June 16 and June 25, 2026, to nominate candidates. The commission also ordered parties to submit notices of their primaries before the scheduled dates due to the special nature of the exercise.

“For the avoidance of doubt, all other timelines and activities contained in the already published revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election shall apply to the restored constituencies,” the statement added.

The decision follows years of legal battles by communities arguing they had been denied constitutional representation. Earlier this year, a Federal High Court in Lokoja ordered INEC to restore and conduct elections in several suppressed constituencies in Kogi State, ruling that the affected areas were entitled to representation in the state House of Assembly. Similarly, the Court of Appeal ordered the restoration of constituencies in Benue State, while the Senate also urged INEC to comply with judicial decisions.

INEC had commenced technical processes in April, including stakeholder consultations, fieldwork, constituency mapping, and collection of demographic and geographical data needed for electoral planning, to ensure proper delineation and effective implementation of the court orders.