Create additional wards for fair representation, Owu community urges INEC

The Owu community in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to create additional wards in the area to ensure fair representation and effective governance.

The people expressed concern over what it described as an imbalance in the allocation of wards in the locality, despite its voters’ registration strength and population.

The community, under the umbrella of Concerned Apex Citizens of Owu, at a press conference held on Thursday, said the community had just three wards, despite its population.

The Chairman of the Forum, Pastor Shola Makinde, noted that some communities such as Oke -Ona and Gbagura in the same local government areas have about four and five wards respectively.

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He explained that Owu community has 78 polling units and a total of 42,264, registered voters, according to information provided onthe INEC website, which makes the community the second-largest in the local government area.

Makinde said, “Part of our discoveries are the unfortunate imbalances in the allocation of only three wards to Owu Community despite the huge population and voter registration strength.

“There is no gain saying the fact that delineation is long overdue in the Owu community which is crucial for ensuring fair political representation, efficient governance, performance of civic responsibility and monumental community engagement.

“The Concerned Apex Citizens Of Owu Kingdom emphasized that ward delineation is crucial for preventing imbalances and ensuring equal representation at the local government level.”

The group however demanded three additional political and administrative wards, considering their large population, land size, and insufficient electoral polling units.

The group added “Presently Owu Community consists of three Administrative/Political Wards. However, Owu community is duly qualified to be allocated with five Administrative and political wards.

“Through these wards addition, it is hoped that the challenge of voter apathy will also be drastically reduced. It will also mark a significant leap in our political and electoral representation in Owu Community in particular and Abeokuta North Local Government in general.”