The National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitution Review has given unanimous approval to the proposal for the creation of an additional state in Nigeria’s South East region.

The decision was reached during a two-day retreat held in Lagos, where lawmakers reviewed multiple constitutional amendment proposals, including the establishment of 55 new states across the country.

Currently, the South East comprises five states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo, one short of the six states in the South South, South West, North Central, and North East regions, and two fewer than the seven in the North West.

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

The motion for the creation of the additional state was moved by Senator Abdul Ningi from Bauchi Central and seconded by Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka from Ifo Ewekoro, Ogun State. The proposal received unanimous support from all committee members.

In addition, the committee approved the inclusion of independent candidates in all elections and endorsed the allocation of one additional seat for women in each state within both chambers of the National Assembly.

To further evaluate requests for additional states and local government areas across all six geopolitical zones, a subcommittee was established, comprising one Senator and one Member of the House of Representatives from each state.