South-East 6th State: Hurdles After National Assembly Committee Approval
GMT News – Abuja | October 25, 2025
Nigeria may be on the brink of making democratic history following the approval of the South-East 6th State by the National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitution Review. The landmark development, which emerged from the committee’s retreat in Lagos on Saturday, signals renewed hope for the South-East geopolitical zone, which has long agitated for equity in the country’s state structure.
Complementing this momentum is Senator Ned Nwoko’s strategic foresight in navigating the legislative process and securing the support of more than 80 senators for the creation of a sixth state for the South-East. His consistent campaign and stakeholder mobilisation have placed the additional state for South-East agenda firmly on the national map.
The committee’s decision has sparked jubilation across the region and generated nationwide discussion around what many describe as a long-overdue correction of Nigeria’s political imbalance. The recommendation for the South-East 6th State has dominated national headlines and social media trends, symbolising the region’s collective aspiration for fair representation in the Nigerian federation.
According to the National Assembly confirming the approval, the joint committee – comprising members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives – unanimously endorsed the proposal after years of consultations, public hearings, and memoranda from stakeholders across the country. The South-East, currently with five states – Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo – has remained the only zone without six states. The proposed additional state for South-East aims to address this disparity.
However, while the development marks an important milestone, analysts emphasize that the committee’s approval does not yet amount to full constitutional creation of a state. Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, under Section 8, stipulates a rigorous procedure for state creation. It begins with a formal request supported by at least two-thirds of representatives of the affected area, followed by endorsement by two-thirds of members of both chambers of the National Assembly. Thereafter, two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly must also approve the proposal before it is forwarded to the President for assent.
In essence, the joint committee’s approval represents only the first hurdle in a series of constitutional steps required to establish the new state. Yet, the symbolic importance of this progress cannot be overstated. For the first time in Nigeria’s democratic history, a civilian-led legislature is advancing a process that has historically been the preserve of military regimes.
If the creation of an additional state for South-East succeeds, it will be a landmark achievement for the Tinubu-led democratic government, marking a decisive break from the pattern of state creation through decrees by successive military rulers. Between 1967 and 1996, Nigeria’s internal map was redrawn by four military heads of state.
General Yakubu Gowon began the process in 1967 when he replaced the four regions with 12 states. General Murtala Mohammed increased them to 19 in 1976, while General Ibrahim Babangida expanded the number to 21 in 1987 and later to 30 in 1991. Finally, General Sani Abacha created six more states in 1996, bringing the total to 36. Since the return to democracy in 1999, no civilian administration has created a new state despite numerous proposals and public demands.
Observers say this approval of South-East 6th state gives President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a unique opportunity to make history. If the constitutional process is concluded under his administration, it would not only strengthen Nigeria’s democratic credentials but also reaffirm Tinubu’s commitment to inclusivity, equity, and federal balance — key pillars of his governance philosophy.
A member of the committee who spoke with GMT News under anonymity described the decision as “a bold step toward justice and fairness.” He noted that the South-East had been “unjustly shortchanged” in past exercises, adding that the new effort “will give the region a fair voice in national decision-making and restore a sense of belonging.”
Public Affairs experts, however, caution that the process ahead remains steep. Dr. Maxwell Menkiti Ngene of Enugu State Science and Technology, ESUT, a public affairs analyst, noted that “state creation is not just a political gesture – it’s a constitutional relay that requires wide consensus.” He stressed that while the National Assembly Joint Committee’s approval of an additional state for South-East was commendable, the hardest part would be securing the support of two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly across Nigeria.
Despite the hurdles, optimism runs high in the South-East. Leaders of thought, traditional rulers, and socio-political organizations like Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Ndi Na-Asu-Bia Socio-Cultural Organisation have expressed satisfaction with the development. They describe it as a long-awaited recognition of the region’s need for equal representation and an end to structural imbalance that has persisted for nearly six decades.
Political commentators also argue that beyond representation, a new state in the South-East could reshape the region’s developmental trajectory. With an additional state comes increased federal allocation, infrastructure opportunities, and political appointments – factors that could stimulate growth and enhance the competitiveness of the South-East within the Nigerian federation.
For President Tinubu, whose administration has emphasized national unity and inclusiveness, the realization of this proposal – South-East 6th State – could serve as a defining democratic legacy. If achieved, it would be the first time a Nigerian president – operating within constitutional democracy – successfully oversees the creation of a new state.
The approval of South-East 6th state may still face legislative and political tests, but its broader significance already resonates. It rekindles hope that Nigeria’s democracy can evolve beyond military precedents, driven instead by negotiation, representation, and rule of law.
Beyond his legislative efforts, Senator Ned Nwoko’s advocacy reflects a broader moral vision anchored on national balance and unity. His call for an additional state in the South-East transcends regional sentiment. By championing dialogue, research-backed proposals, and bipartisan collaboration, Nwoko has emerged as one of the most consistent voices reminding Nigerians that inclusivity remains the soul of genuine democracy. Time for South-East 6th State is now.
As the process moves to the next stages – National Assembly debate, State Assemblies’ concurrence, and eventual presidential assent – Nigerians are watching closely. Should all conditions be met, the South-East may finally welcome its sixth state, and the Tinubu government may inscribe its name indelibly in Nigeria’s democratic history. GMTNewsng
