South East Gets National Assembly Nod for Creation of New State

The National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Constitution Review has endorsed the creation of a new state in Nigeria’s South East geopolitical zone — a historic move that could address long-standing demands for equity, justice, and regional balance across the federation.

Akahi News gathered that the endorsement came after a two-day retreat held in Lagos, where lawmakers reviewed over 55 requests for new states and hundreds of proposals for additional local governments. The committee’s resolution, chaired by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and co-chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, marks a critical milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing constitutional review process.

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South East Set to Gain Sixth State for Equity and Balance

Currently, the South East comprises five states — Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo — making it the only geopolitical zone with fewer than six states. The proposed creation of an additional state aims to bring parity with other regions such as the South West, South South, North East, and North Central, which each have six, while the North West has seven.

During deliberations, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) moved the motion for the new state, seconded by Representative Ibrahim Isiaka (Ogun State). The motion received unanimous approval from members present.

Akahi News learnt that the joint committee also constituted a subcommittee to fine-tune proposals for new states and local government areas across all zones — one senator and one representative per state — ensuring wide representation in the decision-making process.

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Women’s Inclusion, Independent Candidacy Also Approved

In addition to approving a new state for the South East, the committee reportedly endorsed provisions for independent candidates in future elections and proposed one additional seat for women in both the Senate and the House of Representatives from each state.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin urged members to maintain bipartisan cooperation and mobilise support from colleagues across the National Assembly and state assemblies to ensure the constitutional amendments scale through the voting process. He emphasised the need to “strengthen national unity” and advance proposals that reflect fairness and inclusivity.

Jibrin revealed that over the last two years, the committee had received 69 constitutional amendment bills, 55 state creation requests, and 278 proposals for local government creation, alongside multiple public hearings and stakeholder consultations.

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Lawmakers Hail Move as Step Toward Justice for the South East

Reacting to the development, Senator Osita Izunaso (Imo West) described the decision as “a long-awaited moment of justice for the South East.” Speaking with Akahi News, he said the move would ensure equity and bring an end to marginalisation narratives.

“For a start, the South East is the only region with five states. So, this is not just an additional state — it is about equality and fairness so that all zones can stand on the same footing,” Izunaso said.

He further explained that the creation of an additional state would increase the region’s representation in the Senate from 15 to 18, expand its seats in the House of Representatives and state assemblies, and boost its share of revenue allocation.

“This development will promote unity and give every region a fair voice,” he added.

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Addressing Agitations Through Balanced Representation

Analysts believe the move could also ease long-standing agitation in the region by addressing one of its key grievances — underrepresentation in national structures. Izunaso expressed optimism that the initiative would “calm frayed nerves” and promote national cohesion.

He also welcomed the idea of increasing female representation in parliament, describing it as “a progressive step toward gender inclusivity,” though he noted that implementation might still face challenges during final legislative voting.

According to reports obtained by Akahi News, the National Assembly’s leadership plans to transmit the first batch of constitutional amendment bills to state assemblies before the end of the year, signalling the beginning of what could be a defining moment in Nigeria’s federal structure reform.

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What Lies Ahead

While the endorsement is not yet the final approval for the creation of a new state, political observers say the decision represents one of the most significant steps since Nigeria’s last state creation exercise in 1996. The process will still require a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers of the National Assembly and endorsement by two-thirds of the state assemblies, as outlined in Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution.

Nonetheless, Akahi News notes that the momentum behind the South East’s push for parity reflects growing national consensus on equity, fairness, and inclusive governance.

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Thanks. By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
Akahi News http://www.akahinews.org