Rep. Cyril Hart Pushes for Creation of Two New State Constituencies in Rivers State

Rep. Cyril Hart, who represents Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has formally requested the creation of two additional state constituencies in Rivers State. In a letter addressed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Constitution Review Committee of the House, Hart proposed the establishment of Degema State Constituency II and Bonny State Constituency II. His request aims to enhance political representation and improve governance in the affected local government areas.

Dated July 7, 2025, and acknowledged by INEC on July 10, Hart’s letter references Section 114 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates periodic reviews of state constituencies. He also cited Sections 91 and 112, which provide that a state’s House of Assembly should have three or four times the number of its federal constituencies, with a maximum of 40 seats. Rivers State currently has only 32 state constituencies, despite having 13 federal seats, suggesting the state is underrepresented by seven constituencies.

In his letter to INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Hart emphasized that Bonny LGA’s growing population and economic significance warrant a second constituency. He noted that Bonny is home to critical national assets like the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) project and various oil and gas installations. According to Hart, the area’s current representation structure is no longer sufficient to meet the governance and developmental needs of the people.

Hart described the proposed Bonny State Constituency II as essential for achieving equitable political participation and strengthening democratic governance. He appealed to INEC to fulfill its constitutional responsibility by supporting the request. He expressed confidence that under Professor Yakubu’s leadership, INEC would uphold its mandate to ensure fair representation across the country.

During a community engagement session, the lawmaker took time to explain the legal basis for his proposal and its relevance to the ongoing constitutional amendment process. He pointed out that the current delineation of state constituencies in Rivers was last carried out over 20 years ago, and no longer reflects the realities on the ground. Hart stressed that Rivers, with 13 House of Representatives seats, should rightfully have 39 state constituencies, not the existing 32.

Concluding his remarks, Hart reassured his constituents that he remains committed to ensuring their voices are heard and adequately represented at all levels of government. He acknowledged the complexity involved in constituency creation but insisted that his request was backed by solid legal and demographic justifications.