African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain and political activist Comrade Usman Okai Austin has issued a strong appeal to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to guarantee fair play, equity, and balanced representation in its proposed creation of new electoral wards across Kogi State.
​In an official statement released on Friday, September 4, 2026, in Lokoja, Okai cautioned that the ongoing restructuring exercise risks provoking widespread regional dissatisfaction if perceived imbalances are left unaddressed.
​Okai pointed out that the current proposal for ward redistribution heavily favours Kogi West and select areas of Kogi Central while entirely omitting the nine local government areas comprising Kogi East.
Highlighting specific allocations, he noted: Ijumu LGA: (9) wards, Yagba East LGA: (6) wards, Okene LGA: (5) wards, Mopa-Muro LGA: (4) wards, Yagba West LGA: (4) wards, Kabba-Bunu LGA: (4) wards and Kogi East (Ankpa, Bassa, Dekina, Ibaji, Idah, Igalamela/Odolu, Ofu, Olamaboro, Omala): (0) wards.
​The ADC chieftain stressed that excluding Kogi East lacks justification, as the district stands as both the most populous region and the largest in terms of geographical landmass in the state.
​Okai called on electoral authorities to adhere to statutory parameters, such as population density and territory, rather than regional bias. He urged the leadership of INEC to act as impartial public servants to protect democratic integrity.
​”The ward-creation exercise must adhere strictly to established legal and administrative parameters, including population density and geographical landmass,” Okai said. “INEC leadership should act as impartial public servants for the entire state rather than favouring a single zone.”
​He warned that failure to review the current proposal could ignite political tensions across the state. Reminding electoral officials that the commission’s leadership was welcomed across all three senatorial districts upon appointment.
Okai urged political and civic leaders from Kogi East, West, and Central to demand a transparent and inclusive resolution before final implementation.
