Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, Michael Samuel Idoko, has issued a strong ultimatum to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, demanding an immediate and comprehensive public clarification regarding a controversial proposal for the creation of new electoral wards in the state. Idoko's call comes amid mounting tension and allegations that the proposed exercise disproportionately favours Kogi West and Kogi Central while completely excluding Kogi East, the state's most populous senatorial district.
In a statement released on Friday, September 4, 2026, and made available to news organisations, Idoko expressed grave concern over unverified figures circulating publicly, which suggest a detailed plan for the allocation of new wards across several local government areas. According to the proposal, Ijumu is to receive nine new wards, Mopa-Muro four, Yagba East six, Yagba West four, Kabba-Bunu four, and Okene five. All the benefiting local government areas fall within Kogi West and Kogi Central senatorial districts. Kogi East, which Idoko described as the most populous senatorial district in the state, was allegedly allocated no additional wards under the proposal.
While Idoko stressed that the figures had not been independently confirmed and must be checked against official INEC records, he argued that the mere circulation of such a proposal was serious enough to require a response from the electoral commission. He called on Professor Amupitan to publicly disclose whether the reported proposal exists, what criteria are being applied, which population figures are being relied upon, and why the eastern part of Kogi State would be excluded from any allocation.
Idoko's warning carried a sense of urgency and alarm. He noted that language already circulating among stakeholders in the state included a claim that "INEC Chairman Prof. Amupitan has declared war against Kogi East." While he rejected inflammatory statements, he said the allegation should alert INEC leadership that continued silence could deepen public suspicion and turn it into open anger. "Amupitan must explain. Kogi people deserve to know the truth. If these figures are false, INEC should say so immediately. If they are genuine, the Commission must explain the methodology and criteria used to arrive at this distribution," Idoko declared.
The PDP chieftain also cautioned against what he described as "electoral engineering," warning that any process capable of altering political representation must be conducted with full transparency. "We must not allow electoral administration to become electoral engineering. No part of Kogi state should gain political advantage from criteria that are denied to another part of the state," he said. He urged the Amupitan-led INEC to publish the relevant data and methodology behind the reported exercise, covering population basis, administrative considerations, geographical factors, and the legal framework guiding any proposed ward creation.
Idoko's concerns were echoed by other stakeholders, including Kogi-born political activist and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Comrade Usman Okai Austin. In a separate statement, Okai expressed concern over what he described as the marginalisation of Kogi East in the proposed ward restructuring exercise. He urged INEC to ensure that the exercise was guided by established legal and administrative criteria, including population density and geographical landmass. According to him, the current proposal appears to disproportionately favour Kogi West and some other areas, a development he warned could generate political tension if not reviewed. Okai argued that there was no justification for excluding Kogi East from the exercise, describing the senatorial district as the most populous and largest in terms of landmass in the state.
The proposed ward creation has become a flashpoint in Kogi State's political landscape, with stakeholders from Kogi East alleging systemic marginalisation. Okai further alleged that INEC had proposed additional wards for local government areas in Kogi West, including nine for Ijumu, four for Mopa-Muro, six for Yagba East, four for Yagba West, four for Kabba-Bunu, and five for Okene, while none of the nine local government areas in Kogi East was allocated additional wards. He questioned the rationale behind the alleged distribution and called on INEC to ensure that the exercise was transparent, fair, and reflective of the demographic and geographical realities of the state.
The controversy comes at a time when INEC is under intense scrutiny over its preparations for the 2027 general elections. The Commission has previously faced criticism over its handling of electoral delineation exercises in other parts of the country, particularly in the Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State, where Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic groups have accused the electoral body of undermining a Supreme Court order on ward delineation. In Kogi, the allegations of regional bias in the ward creation exercise have raised fears that the controversy could undermine confidence in the electoral process and fuel political unrest.
Idoko warned that continued silence from INEC could turn public suspicion into open anger across Kogi State. He appealed to respected leaders across the state to speak up and called on INEC to ensure that the process promotes fairness and preserves unity among the people of the state. He also cautioned against using the office of the INEC chairman to advance what he described as regional favouritism.
The allegations of marginalisation have struck a particularly sensitive chord in Kogi East, which has historically been a political powerhouse in the state. The senatorial district, which comprises nine local government areas, has produced some of the state's most prominent political figures and has long been a key battleground in electoral contests. The perception that INEC is favouring other senatorial districts in the ward creation exercise could have far-reaching implications for the 2027 elections, potentially alienating voters and undermining the credibility of the electoral process.
Idoko's call for transparency and accountability reflects a growing demand from civil society and political stakeholders for INEC to conduct its affairs with openness and impartiality. As the electoral commission prepares for the 2027 general elections, the controversy over the proposed ward creation in Kogi State serves as a reminder of the high stakes involved in the delineation of electoral boundaries and the need for the Commission to maintain the trust of all stakeholders.
For now, the ball is in the court of Professor Joash Amupitan and the INEC leadership. The demand for clarification is loud and clear, and the people of Kogi State are waiting. As Idoko put it, "Kogi people deserve to know the truth".
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