Date Published: 08/12/09
Cogency of Re-adjusting Electoral Boundaries
By Edward Wabundani
Over the years, several communities out of the desire to foster even and rapid development of their areas had presented their common position to the authorities for approval. Majority of such communities usually feel marginalized in the affairs of either their local councils that directly reflects on their daily lives and or the states that generally superintends over the local governments or both. No doubt such ill-feelings among the citizenry may have had adverse effects on the economic, social and political contributions the communities may have wished to make for the over all development of the nation.
The proposal submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission for the merger of Hong/Gombi Federal Constituency with the Northern Senatorial District in Adamawa State is one of such common positions adopted by two prominent communities. Ordinarily, this write up would not have been necessary. But for the fact that another angle to the issue had earlier on been presented by a handful self acclaimed concerned persons from the Adamawa Central Zone which opposed the proposed merger. According to my source from the INEC Headquarters in Abuja, these individuals posited that, Hong/Gombi Federal Constituency is part of Adamawa emirate council and not Mubi emirate; hence there is no need to seek re-adjustment.
Infact, it is not only a pity, but unfortunate that their submission is not only myopic but undemocratic. They have ignored the plank on which democracy is built. Even in older and larger democracies like India, America, Britain democracy is so much more about people rather than traditional institutions. This is more so, when the latter conflicts with the former and more seriously, when it also conflicts with the 1999 constitution of our dear nation. It is also instructive to note that, the position of those few is at variance with other extant laws of the nation as happens to be the case in this instance.
Further to this, it should also be noted that, the objective for such a demand is democratic aimed to solve the age long political, administrative and economic problems militating against the collective interest of citizens from these two areas. It is hinged on this premise that both communities last year held wide consultations among stakeholders, with a view to weigh the pros and cons of consolidating on the gains of their common cultural affinity with their Kiths and Kin in the Northern Zone of the state. The popular opinion is to move to the Northern Zone in the next dispensation.
Another justification for the proposed merger is the ecological and geographical proximity of Hong/Gombi council areas and Mubi, the centre point of Adamawa North Senatorial district. Actually, the boundary between Hong and Mubi is the welcome gate to the city-centre. Hong formerly in Gombi local government also shares common borders with Maiha, Michika and Askira Uba local government in Borno State.
Constitutionally, the two communities are also guided in their submission by provisions of sections 49, 71, 75, 112, 113 and 114 of the 1999 constitution. Equally, the provisions of sections 108, 112, 113, 114 and 115 of the Electoral Act 2006. The aforementioned provisions clearly supports the agitation to readjust the boundaries of communities with close cultural ties such as the one in reference.
For avoidance of doubt, Gombi/Hong federal constituency holds no malice against any individual or group of people in any part of the state, nor are they courting the favours of any in the Northern Senatorial Zone of the state. Rather, they are exercising their fundamental right in choosing where they wish to belong, as enshrined in the country’s constitution, which impliedly also provides for the principle of equal representation.
And to ensure that this principle is adhered to strictly, the Independent National Electoral Commission, last year went round all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria to review the delimitation of the existing electoral constituencies in the 36 States of the federation and the FCT. Such exercises are carried out at intervals of not less than 10 years, using either the most recent census figures or any gazetted boundary alteration.
The cogency for the review of the delimitation of Senatorial constituencies in Adamawa may have been connected to the lopsided nature of the population distribution in the old order, among the three districts namely. Adamawa North Senatorial 681, 353, Central District 1,238,388 while the Southern Senatorial Zone 1,248,360. In view of the lopsidedness especially in the number of local governments and the general numerical strength of registered voters spread across the state, it is only natural, justifiable and more explainable, to merge Hong and Gombi local governments to the existing five council areas in the Northern Senatorial Zone of the state. Of course, if the constitutional principle of equal representation in population of the 3 districts are to be as nearly as equal as it is practicable, then the review of the electoral boundaries of the State Senatorial Zones should read thus: Hong/Gombi Federal constituency with population of 299,121 in the 2006 population census, should merge with the Northern Zone with its new population figure to read 996,121. The Central Zone’s new figure should read 1,091,306 subject to if Jada L.G.A is adjusted from the Southern Zone, while the Southern Zone’s new population will be 1,079,887.
Though this arrangement may be contested by others especially in a democracy such as ours, but sentiments apart, this is the most workable, sustainable and above all the only panacea to the electoral quagmire in Adamawa politics. This concept apart from beefing up the glaring low population of voters in the Northern Senatorial Zone, it will equally solve once and for all, the administrative and electoral difficulties encountered in the affected areas in the past. Above all, the historical and socio-cultural links that has been existing among the ethnic groups in Gombi, Hong and the five councils in Mubi Chiefdom will be sustained for even development.
Edward Wabundani can be reached on quiveer @yahoo.com.
