Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Leaders and stakeholders from the South-East are set to meet with National Assembly members from the zone to harmonize their position on the proposed creation of an additional state.
According to sources close to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who serves as co-chairman of the Constitution Amendment Committee, the meeting is scheduled to hold on November 14, 2025, in one of the South-East state capitals.
Those expected to attend include governors, ministers, National Assembly members, speakers and deputy speakers of state Houses of Assembly, and heads of federal agencies from the region.
A statement issued after a high-level meeting between the Deputy Speaker and the South-East Caucus of the Senate on Monday noted that the forthcoming forum would provide an opportunity for proponents of the new state to present their case and for stakeholders to adopt a unified position ahead of parliamentary consideration.
The meeting, chaired by Senator Osita Isunaso, saw lawmakers from the region resolve to pursue a common stance on state creation before presenting it to the National Assembly for debate and voting.
A similar consultative session had earlier been held in the House of Representatives, where members agreed to extend the engagement to the Senate for broader consensus.
It would be recalled that the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review, during its retreat in Lagos two weeks ago — co-chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, and Kalu — approved the creation of an additional state in the South-East. The move aims to bring the zone at par with other geopolitical regions of the country.
Etiti State, which is proposed to comprise at least two local government areas from each of the five South-East states, has so far emerged as the most favoured option among stakeholders.
