The House of Representatives took a significant step on Thursday by passing a bill to establish a new state in the southeastern region, to be known as Orlu State.
Vanguard reports that the bill, which successfully passed its first reading, was sponsored by Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere (Ideato North South, Imo State) and supported by several co-sponsoring lawmakers.
According to the draft bill, the creation of Orlu State will amend the 1999 Constitution, increasing the number of states in Nigeria from 36 to 37.
The proposed state, with Orlu as its capital, will be carved out from parts of Imo, Abia, and Anambra states.
The Orlu State Bill aims to amend the Constitution by adding a new paragraph that includes 28 local government areas: 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, the primary sponsor, urged fellow National Assembly members to support the bill to ensure its successful passage during the second reading.
He suggested that the establishment of Orlu State could lead to the formation of Ideato as a senatorial district.
It’s notable that, unlike other geopolitical zones in Nigeria which have a minimum of six states, the South-East currently has only five, making the region have less number of representatives at the National Assembly.
