Deputy Speaker Blocks Creation Of 31 New States, Says Applications Are Invalid

LAGOS FEBRUARY 8TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has declared that the 31 applications for new state creation in Nigeria are invalid because they do not meet the constitutional requirements.
Kalu made this known during an interview with TVC News, where he explained that none of the proposals had fulfilled the necessary conditions as outlined in Section 8, Subsections 1, 2, and 3 of the Nigerian Constitution.
According to Kalu, the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review, which is responsible for processing the requests, has received applications through member bills and memoranda. However, he noted that these proposals had failed to meet the required legal framework for state creation.
“We decided to let the people know that, granted, we have received all the applications for new states to be created, either through a member’s bill or through memoranda. However, not all of them are good enough to be created,” he stated.
He further stressed that state creation must follow a strict constitutional process, which includes obtaining approval from a two-thirds majority of the Senate, the House of Representatives, the State Houses of Assembly, and local government councils.
“As we speak, none of these 30 proposals have met the requirement of Section 8. That is why we decided to bring it to the notice of Nigerians that your application before us is ineffective,” he added.
Kalu announced that applicants have until March 5 to address the deficiencies in their applications. He emphasized that there is no alternative to constitutional compliance, urging those seeking state creation to follow the prescribed process.
He added; “There is no alternative to complying with the provisions of the Constitution. The Constitution is sacrosanct; it is our guiding principle. If it states that a particular process must be followed in line with the rule of law, then we must respect the supremacy of the Constitution. There is no other option.”
“Those who desire state creation must comply with the constitutional procedures and resubmit their applications. That is the window we have provided—a one-month period—which is sufficient for applicants to address the gaps. Once they do so, we will reconsider the applications.”