The House of Representatives took a significant step on Thursday toward creating a new state in Nigeria’s South-East geo-political zone.
During the plenary session, lawmakers passed a bill for the first reading to establish Orlu State.
The bill, sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere of Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency in Imo State, among others, aims to amend the 1999 Constitution to increase the number of states from 36 to 37.
Orlu State will be formed from parts of Imo, Abia, and Anambra States, with Orlu as its capital.
The proposed state will include 28 local government areas, such as Orlu, Orsu, Oru West, Ideato North, and Njaba, among others.
Ugochinyere appealed to his colleagues for support to ensure the bill’s passage through a second reading.
He emphasized that the creation of Orlu State would lead to the formation of Ideato as a senatorial district. Currently, the South-East has five states, the fewest among Nigeria’s regions.
The bill’s progression aligns with other regional demands, like the South-West’s push for Oke-Ogun State, which would equalize state numbers with the North-West.