The House of Representatives has taken a step towards the creation of a new state in Nigeria’s South-East geopolitical zone.
During Thursday’s plenary session, lawmakers passed a bill for the first reading to establish Orlu State. The bill, sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere, representative of Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency in Imo State, and others, now moves to the second reading stage.
The proposed creation of Orlu State would amend the 1999 Constitution (as amended), increasing the number of states in Nigeria from 36 to 37. Orlu State would be carved out from parts of Imo, Abia, and Anambra States, with Orlu designated as its capital city.
The bill outlines the inclusion of 28 local government areas in the new state, namely Orlu, Orsu, Oru West, Oru East, Ideato North, Ideato South, Njaba, Nkwerre, Nwangele, Isu, Oguta, Ohaji Egbema, Onuimo, Ihiala, Uga, Uli, Ozubulu, Akokwa, Arondizuogu, Umuchu, Umunze, Umuaku, New Ideato North, Nwabosi West, Nwabosi East, Owerre Nkworji, Alaoma, Amaifeke, and Owerrebiri Umuowa.
Ugochinyere, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party and the lead sponsor of the bill, urged his colleagues in the National Assembly to support the bill to ensure its passage through the second reading. He stated that the creation of Orlu State would also result in the establishment of Ideato as a senatorial district.
Currently, the South-East is the only geopolitical zone with five states, while other zones have at least six. The North-West has seven states, and the South-West is also seeking the creation of Oke-Ogun State, which would bring it to parity with the North-West.
