State Creation in Southeast: Doubts, Rivalries, and Location Disputes Threaten New Push

The recent approval by the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Constitution Review for the creation of a new state in Nigeria’s Southeast region has reignited both hope and controversy. While many see it as a long-overdue step toward political balance, deep-seated disagreements over the proposed state’s name, location, and feasibility now threaten to derail the initiative.

The Southeast remains the only geopolitical zone with five states, compared to six or seven in others. For decades, groups such as Ohanaeze Ndigbo, religious leaders, and political stakeholders have decried what they consider structural marginalisation, arguing that the imbalance affects federal representation and revenue sharing.

If ratified, the National Assembly’s decision would bring the Southeast on par with other regions, but multiple competing proposals for the new state, Adada, Aba, Njaba, Orashi, Etiti, Anim, and Anioma, have created fresh divisions. Each demand comes from different states and interest blocs, with strong local backing.

Adada State: The Leading Contender
Among the numerous proposals, Adada State, championed by former minister and Ohanaeze leader, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, appears most prominent. Advocates from Enugu North Senatorial District and Isi-Uzo Local Government Area argue that their region meets all legal criteria for state creation, citing past endorsements dating back to 1983. They insist that their movement enjoys unanimous support across all political levels in Enugu State.

Other Proposals Stir Rivalries
However, rival campaigns for Aba (from Abia), Orashi and Njaba (from Imo), Etiti (spanning Abia, Imo, and Ebonyi), and Anim (drawing from Anambra, Imo, and Rivers) have emerged, each claiming fairness and viability. Some activists are also pushing for Anioma State from parts of Delta and Anambra, to reunite Igbos separated by earlier boundary adjustments.

Experts Question Feasibility
Despite widespread enthusiasm, many analysts remain sceptical. Enugu-based lawyer James Oko explained that state creation requires a bill supported by two-thirds of lawmakers across federal and state assemblies, a hurdle that has defeated every civilian attempt since 1999.

Civil Liberties Organisation Executive Director, Ibuchukwu Ezike, described the Southeast’s internal competition as its “biggest obstacle,” warning that no group would yield its demand for another’s success. He also cited external challenges, including the need for national consensus and the complex constitutional process involving at least 24 states’ approval and a referendum.

Elder statesman Chief Chekwas Okorie echoed this view, describing the National Assembly’s move as “symbolic but unrealistic,” given the rigid 1999 Constitution. “No democratic government has ever created a state in Nigeria; only the military could,” he said.

Political Undertones and Skepticism
Not everyone sees the development as genuine. Rev. Okechukwu Obioha, President of Njiko Igbo, dismissed the approval as a political ploy by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to gain favour in the region ahead of elections. “It’s a distraction and an attempt to woo Igbo voters. None of the past promises have materialised,” he argued.

Cautious Optimism
Nonetheless, some leaders remain hopeful. APC chieftain Osita Okechukwu described the proposed new state as “a long-overdue remedy to decades of imbalance and post-war marginalisation.” He expressed support for Adada State, noting that its creation would promote national unity and fairness.

Professor Jehu Onyekwere of International Law and Global Politics also acknowledged the progress, stressing that discussions must now focus on selecting the most viable proposal, likely between Adada and Anioma.

As debates intensify, the ultimate challenge lies not only in political will but in regional unity. Whether the 10th National Assembly can overcome historical barriers and finally deliver a sixth state to the Southeast remains uncertain, but the stakes for equity, identity, and inclusion have never been higher.