Nigeria's House of Representatives on Thursday, took the first step towards creating a new state in the southeast geopolitical zone of the country.
It was gathered that legislators on the floor of the House throughout Thursday’s plenary passed a bill for first reading for the creation of Orlu State.
The bill, sponsored by a lawmaker representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency, Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, and others, is now ready for a second reading.
According to reports, the creation of the Orlu State will change the 1999 Constitution (as amended), multiplying the number of states in the country from 36 to 37.
However, to create Orlu State, parts of Imo, Abia, and Anambra States would be combined. Orlu would serve as the new state's capital.
The bill seeks to amend the 1999 constitution by adding a new section that would define the 28 local government areas that would make up the new Orlu State, including Orlu, Orsu, Oru West, Oru East, Njaba, Nkwerre, Nwangele, Isu, Oguta, Ohaji Egbema, Onuimo, Ihiala, Uga, Ihiala, Uli, Ozubulu, Ideato North, Ideato South, Akokwa, Arondizuogu, Umuchu, Umunze, Amaifeke, Umuaku, New Ideato North, Nwabosi West, Nwabosi East, Owerre Nkworji, Alaoma, and Owerrebiri Umuowa.
The bill's main sponsor, Ikenga Ugochinyere (a Peoples Democratic Party member), urged his fellow lawmakers in the National Assembly to vote in favour of the bill during the second reading, which would move it forward in the approval process.
He noted that creating the Orlu State would also create a new senatorial district called Ideato.
