UNIEC REJECTS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY’S APPROVAL FOR CREATION OF NEW STATES

 


PRESS RELEASE




UNIEC REJECTS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY’S APPROVAL FOR CREATION OF NEW STATES — Cites Injustices, Seeks Renaming Of North Central To Middle Belt 


LAGOS, NIGERIA — October 27, 2025:


The United Igbo Elders Congress Worldwide (UNIEC) has faulted and rejected the National Assembly’s approval for the creation of one new state in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, describing the move as imbalanced, inequitable, and unjust to the South East region.


The decision to create six new states, reached at a two-day retreat in Lagos jointly chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, is being criticized by UNIEC as another missed opportunity to correct Nigeria’s long-standing structural inequities.


Under the approved arrangement, the South East — currently with five (5) states — would gain one additional state, making six (6) in total, while the North West would move from seven (7) to eight (8) states. UNIEC maintains that this outcome deepens regional disparity rather than promoting equity.


Speaking on behalf of the Congress, High Chief Ikechukwu Okwube (Udu Ego), Okigbo Nkpor, National Patron and Chairman of the UNIEC National Advisory Council, stated:

“This so-called approval only widens the gap between the most and least represented zones. The South East should not remain the least advantaged region after yet another constitutional review process.

True equity demands that the South East be brought at par with the North West and North East, not perpetually placed at the bottom rung of the federation.”


UNIEC Demands Renaming of North Central Zone


In addition to rejecting the new state creation formula, UNIEC called for the official renaming of the North Central Zone to “Middle Belt Zone”, arguing that the term “North Central” no longer reflects the region’s unique cultural and political identity.


“The Middle Belt has its own ethnic and historical identity distinct from the core North,” UNIEC stated.

“Recognizing this through proper nomenclature is essential to national inclusion and justice.”


Call to President Tinubu and the National Assembly. 


UNIEC therefore urged the leadership of the National Assembly to suspend the current arrangement and revisit the state creation process with fairness and balanced representation in mind.


The group also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and ensure that any constitutional amendment reflects true equity among Nigeria’s six zones.

“Nigeria cannot continue to pretend that equality exists when the very architecture of her federation is tilted against fairness,” the statement concluded.

“The South East deserves not charity, but justice; not pacification, but parity.”


Signed:

Ambassador Dr Obiora Odumah, Chairman, Board of Trustees.


H. E. Pastor Michael Obierika, Secretary, Board of Trustees.


High Chief Ikechukwu Okwube (Udu Ego) Okigbo Nkpor, Member, National Advisory Council. 

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