Trending 
Governors Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and Alex Otti of Abia State have expressed sharply opposing views on the creation of additional states in Nigeria’s South-East region, as conversations around constitutional reform gain momentum.
Speaking at the public hearing on constitutional amendments held in Owerri on Saturday, Uzodimma advocated strongly for the creation of at least two more states in the region, describing it as a remedy to what he termed a structural and political imbalance affecting the Igbo people.
“Every other zone has six or more states,” Uzodimma said. “This imbalance has led to under-representation in critical national institutions, from the National Assembly to the Federal Executive Council. It has shrunk our voice and abridged our inclusivity.”
He proposed the creation of Anim State, a state he said would be oil-producing and help expand the region’s number of local government areas. Uzodimma further called for legal recognition of indigeneity based on long-term residency.
“How else did Mallam Umaru Altine become the Mayor of Enugu in 1952, if not because he was accepted as an indigene?” he asked.
The Imo governor also pushed for a rotational presidency among the six geopolitical zones, moving away from the traditional North–South power arrangement.
“This is not about tokenism but national stability,” he argued. “If Nigerians know the presidency will rotate across zones, it will remove the fear of domination and deepen national inclusion.”
However, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, represented by his deputy Ikechukwu Emetu, expressed scepticism about the practicality of state creation, citing its financial and administrative consequences.
“While I acknowledge the concerns of marginalised groups, I worry about the additional burden on Nigeria’s limited resources,” Otti stated. “Unless we identify independent sources of revenue, I do not share the optimism of those proposing new states.”
Otti cautioned that the proliferation of states could further inflate Nigeria’s already bloated bureaucracy and advocated instead for a more efficient, people-centred model of governance.
He also threw his weight behind the creation of state police, stressing the need for proper frameworks around recruitment, accountability, leadership, and coordination with federal agencies.
“The federal policing structure has proved inadequate. Our people continue to suffer avoidable vulnerabilities,” he said.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chair of the Constitution Review Committee, Benjamin Kalu, described the session as a key part of an inclusive constitutional reform process.
“The 2025 constitutional review process is the most comprehensive in our nation’s history,” Kalu noted. “Our mandate is to ensure that every Nigerian is fairly represented and protected under the law.”
The Constitution Review Committee has so far received over 30 proposals for new states from different parts of the country, with similar hearings scheduled across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
