Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR, has announced that proponents of new state creation in the South-East will publicly defend their requests before the National Assembly and stakeholders of the region.
Kalu made the disclosure in Abuja on Tuesday when leaders of the Aba State Movement, led by the first Attorney-General of Abia State, Chief Theo Nkire, paid him a courtesy visit.
He explained that following the recent unanimous approval by the Joint Senate–House Constitution Review Committee for an additional state in the South-East, groups pushing for state creation must present compelling arguments based on population and economic viability.
“You will be called upon to defend your request,” Kalu said. “Beyond history, there are the economics of the project. Can it compete? Can it be sustained? We will convene a public hearing in early November for all South-East stakeholders. Advocates must present population data, economic feasibility, maps and convincing justification.”
He added that the presentation would involve prominent stakeholders including Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe and Austin Akobundu; Hon. Chris Nkwonta; Hon. Munachim Alozie; Senator Nkechi Nwogu; Hon. Uzo Azubuike; Chief Sam Nkire; Eze Love Wogu; Eze Tony Wabara; Dr. Onye Achilihu and others.
Earlier, Chief Nkire reiterated the long-standing agitation for Aba State, describing it as the oldest and most viable request dating back to 1954 and famously canvassed before the Willink Minority Commission in 1957.
He stated that the proposed state; comprising Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South, Aba North, Aba South, Obingwa, Osisioma Ngwa, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa East and Ukwa West LGAs, has historically functioned as a united socio-political and economic bloc rooted in shared ancestry and enterprise.
Nkire noted that Aba State received endorsement from the National Assembly in 1983 for a referendum, from the 2014 National Conference, and from Ohanaeze Ndigbo in 2018.
“It is regrettable that despite Aba’s undeniable status as the commercial heartbeat of the South-East, this vision remains unrealized,” he said. “The creation of Aba State is not merely political — it is a moral fulfillment of history, a step toward equity and balanced national development.”
He expressed gratitude to the National Assembly for approving the principle of an additional South-East state, saying the movement remains confident that with unity and constitutional process, the long-pursued Aba State dream will be achieved.
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