Lagos — GOVERNOR Olusegun Agagu yesterday charged the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to apply visible and unquestionable empirical data in the forhcoming delimitation of constituencies in the state.

Speaking in Akure during an interactive session which INEC held with stakeholders in the state, the governor argued that applying the most transparent manner would eliminate arbitrariness and lopsidedness.

Agagu noted that the proposal by the electoral body to increase the state constituencies from 26 to 36 was acceptable.

"It presents an opportunity for equitable and proportional distribution of the state constituencies among the three senatorial constituencies of the state."

The governor, however, said a review aimed at redressing the imbalance in the distribution of existing wards was necessary before any meaningful ward delineation can take place across the country.

This, he argued, was because the 203 wards in Ondo State were not based on empirical criteria of population or voting strength.

Agagu then advised INEC "to obtain and make available the population figures and the registered voters for every community in the state and the entire federation as a precondition for the ward delineation."

The governor noted that, "Until then, we recommend that the exercise should be put on hold."

He urged INEC to take a second look at the proposed 2714 polling units for the state as against the existing 3009 on account of the number of registered voters in the last registration.

According to him: "this is because the number of registered voters in the state cannot be ascertained for now until the on-going voter registration is concluded."

Agagu pointed out that "the actual polling units for the state can only be determined as we approach the next election year."

Stakeholders including leaders of various political parties, House of Assembly members and local government bosses asked for empirical data on the delimitation and the need for fairness and equity.

Also speaking, the Commissioner in charge of Delimitation of Constituencies, Prince Deji Soyebi, believed that "the exercise would put to rest various claims of marginalisation and injustice by Nigerians.