In line with the provision of the section (91) of the 1999 constitution, the Osun State House of Assembly has been pinpointed as being being shortchanged with the number of seats apportioned to it.
This was pointed out by the Parliamentarian representing Irewole/ Isokan State Constituency, Hon. Abiola Ibrahim who said: “Subject to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, a House of Assembly of a State shall consist of three or four times the number of seats which the State has in the House of Representatives…”
Hon Abiola Ibrahim subsequently advanced that based on the above, the Osun State House of Assembly with nine(9) Federal Constituencies, is thus entitled to 27 or 36 State Assembly constituencies.
This was raised as a matter of Personal Explanation during the plenary by the Parliamentarian who cited that constituencies having more than one local government should be given additional representation.
This, Hon. Abiola Ibrahim expressed, will not only increase representation and ease governance, but also bring governance closer to the people.
Member representing Boripe/Boluwaduro Constituency, Hon. Simeon Popoola in his contribution disclosed that he had earlier raised the matter in the 6th and 7th Assembly with no result in sight and urged that the matter be given necessary attention.
With members representing Ede-North, Ifelodun and Atakumosa East and West State Constituencies’ aligning with the view, the motion has thus been moved and seconded, that the splitting of four State Constituencies of Osun State be forwarded to the National Assembly and it’s Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution.
The four constituencies are Irepodun/Orolu, Boluwaduro/Boripe, Atakumosa East/Atakunmosa West and Irewole/Isokan.
InsightMedia recalls that the people of Irepodun/Orolu had in the past approached a Federal High Court in Osogbo to demand splitting of the Constituency.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had in 2019 appealed the judgement of the federal court and the matter is still pending in the appellate court.
