South East stakeholders kick as National Assembly proposes six new States

Posted by admin South-East, General Politics, Headlines, Latest Politics, National Politics, Top Stories Friday, November 14th, 2025

By Richard Ogunsile

Stakeholders across the South East have reacted sharply to the National Assembly’s (NASS) recommendation for the creation of six additional states across Nigeria.

The South East stakeholders warn that the proposal fails to address long-standing structural and political marginalisation of the region.

Naija News understands that the Joint Constitution Review Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives had, during a two-day retreat in Lagos, recommended the creation of one state per geopolitical zone after considering 69 bills, including 55 requests for new states, two boundary adjustment requests, and 278 proposals for new local governments.

The retreat was co-chaired by the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu.

If implemented, the number of states in Nigeria would rise from 36 to 42, with each geopolitical zone getting one new state. Under the proposed structure:

North West: 7 existing + 1 new = 8 states

North East: 6 existing + 1 new = 7 states

North Central: 6 existing + FCT treated as state = 7 states

South West: 6 existing + 1 new = 7 states

South South: 6 existing + 1 new = 7 states

South East: 5 existing + 1 new = 6 states

The South East, comprising only five states, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo, is the least represented region in the federation.

Despite decades of agitation, the new NASS proposal merely elevates the zone to six, still fewer than the seven states several regions would now have, and far behind the North West’s proposed eight.

This has triggered fresh concerns, with many stakeholders describing the recommendation as unbalanced, politically insensitive, and “an incomplete attempt at equity.

Obidigbo Warns of Hidden Agenda Behind Anioma Debate

Elder statesman, Dr Chike Obidigbo, has expressed deep concern over the intensifying disputes within the South East regarding which of the proposed states, Adada, Etiti, or Anioma, should be created.

Obidigbo said the disagreements were unnecessary and dangerous, warning that “political tricks” were being deployed to divide the region.

Speaking to Daily Post, Obidigbo said: “There is a covert effort to bring disunity among Igbo caused by malicious notions of core and peripheral Igbo. I urge caution. These disagreements are needless.”

According to him, Ohanaeze Ndigbo should immediately convene a regionwide meeting to harmonise the demands and avoid internal crisis.

Obidigbo gave a breakdown of the historical and political considerations:

On Adada State: He noted that Adada is “on record as one of the oldest demands for state creation” in the South East.

On Etiti State: He acknowledged strong arguments supporting Etiti State, which would be carved from homogenous Igbo communities drawn from the five existing states.

On Anioma State: He warned that pushing Anioma State into the South East is politically risky.

“I do not think the Delta State House of Assembly would readily vote for an Anioma State as an appendage of the South East,” he said.

Obidigbo added that some “external forces” were pushing the Anioma agenda to cause confusion and fracture political unity among Igbo people.

On Geographic Logic he said geography should guide decisions. “If Igbanke people in Edo State agree to be part of Anioma, and Igbo communities in Benue and Kogi agree to be part of Adada, then leaders must weigh the options and decide,” the Elder Statesman.

He stressed that local political office holders would vote based on where their electoral and economic interests lie, and that no single individual, including lawmakers advocating vigorously (such as Senator Ned Munir Nwoko), can influence such a decision alone.

‘Equity Must Be Meaningful, Not Cosmetic’ – Nnabuife

Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Anambra State Civic and Social Reformation Office, Dr Chuka Nnabuife, welcomed efforts by the National Assembly to expand Nigeria’s federating units but insisted that true equity demands more thoughtful action.

He said he does not engage deeply in marginalisation debates but emphasised that history shows state creation drives development.

He explained: “Anybody who has been in Nigeria when we had 12 states, then 19, then 30, and now 36, will know there has been remarkable improvement in the quality of life.”

Nnabuife argued strongly for true fairness, noting that the South East currently has five states. He noted that the NASS proposal adds one, making six, while several zones get seven, and one gets eight.

This, Nnabuife said, still leaves the region disadvantaged. He said, “There is a need for equity and justice. If you add one more state to the Southeast but also add states to other regions, the imbalance continues.”

Nnabuife said: “I am suggesting two states in the South East, then one in other regions, and if possible, none in any region that already has seven. That is true equity and justice.”

He insisted that the South East should not benefit “symbolically” but “substantially,” and that the region must not be left behind again during a rare constitutional restructuring opportunity.

Naija News understands that the NASS recommendation is not final. Under the Constitution, state creation requires:

Approval by two-thirds of National Assembly members,

Support from two-thirds of state assemblies,

A referendum among the affected population,

and presidential assent.

The debates within the South East and between the zones will determine whether any consensus emerges.

NAIJANEWS