Hope beams for Apa State as National Assembly committee approves creation of new state for South-East

Fresh hope has emerged for the Idoma people of Benue State, who have long agitated for the creation of Apa State, following the approval by the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review for the establishment of an additional state in the South-East geopolitical zone.

The development, which signals growing momentum for broader state creation demands across Nigeria, came at the end of a two-day retreat in Lagos, where the committee reviewed 55 proposals for new states nationwide.

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

In a statement issued by the committee’s media unit, members resolved that, in the spirit of fairness and equity, the Federal Government should create another state for the South-East.

Kalu, who has consistently championed the cause, said the move would give the region a greater sense of belonging and balance representation among the country’s six geopolitical zones.

When created, the South-East will have six states, putting it at par with the South-South, South-West, North-Central, and North-East zones.

Currently, the South-East has five states—Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo—while the North-West has seven.

The statement added that Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) moved the motion for the new state, which was seconded by Ibrahim Isiaka (Ifo/Ewekoro, Ogun State).

“The motion received the unanimous support of committee members and was adopted,” it stated.

The committee also set up a sub-committee to review 278 proposals for the creation of new states and local government areas across all six zones—reviving optimism among other groups, including proponents of Apa State in Benue, who have for years sought recognition and autonomy.

Speaking at the event, Jibrin urged members to mobilise support among colleagues in both chambers and state Houses of Assembly ahead of the constitutional amendment vote.

“We need to strengthen what we have started so that all parts of the country will key into this process.

By the time we get to the actual voting, we should already have the buy-in of all stakeholders,” he said.