The Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, has called on the federal government to create an additional state in the South East region. According to him, this move will help balance the number of states across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones and ensure fairness to the South East, which currently has only five states. All other zones have six or more.
Governor Mbah also advocated strongly for two other major changes in the Nigerian Constitution: the establishment of state police and the implementation of a rotational presidency system. He believes that these three changes are key to promoting fairness, unity, and stronger security across the country.
He made these remarks on Thursday, July 3, 2025, while receiving members of the Senate Committee on Constitution Amendment. The committee, led by Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, paid a courtesy visit to him at the Enugu Government House. Their visit was in preparation for the regional public hearing on constitutional reforms, which is scheduled to hold at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.
Governor Mbah described the idea of state policing as one of the most important reforms being considered in the constitution amendment process. According to him, allowing each state to have its own police force, alongside the federal police, will help address growing insecurity and better protect citizens at the community level.
“Mbah said we have been calling for this change for a long time. The situation in many of our communities shows that we can’t depend only on the federal police anymore. Having state police with clear responsibilities and areas of operation will help us respond more effectively to local security problems,”
The Governor also spoke passionately about the injustice the South East faces by having only five states. He explained that this has led to reduced representation in national politics, fewer federal allocations, and limited opportunities for development compared to other regions.
“He added that the South East has long been marginalized. When you compare our zone to others, we are the only one with just five states. This needs to be corrected if we truly want a fair and balanced Nigeria,” he added.
Mbah also highlighted the importance of introducing a rotational presidency, which would allow different regions of Nigeria to take turns producing the President. He said this would promote national unity and help every part of the country feel included in leadership.
“Giving every region a fair chance at the presidency is important. A rotational system will help reduce tension and make everyone feel like they belong,” he stated.
He noted that Enugu State would officially submit its proposals and recommendations during the upcoming public hearing.
In his remarks, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, the Senate Deputy Chief Whip and leader of the delegation, said the Senate Committee was in the South East to listen to the voices of the people and include their views in the constitution review process.
Nwebonyi admitted that many Nigerians are unhappy with the 1999 Constitution. He pointed out that it was created during the military era and did not truly reflect the wishes of all the regions and ethnic groups in the country.
“The constitution has been criticized for not being inclusive. Many believe it doesn’t represent the interests of all parts of Nigeria. This review gives us a chance to fix some of those wrongs,” he said.
He further acknowledged the long-standing complaint of the South-East about having fewer states than other zones. He assured the people of the region that their concerns would be heard and carefully considered in the amendment process.
“We know that the South East has been calling for fairness for many years, especially regarding the number of states. That is one of the reasons we are here to hear your voices and take your views back to the National Assembly,” Nwebonyi added.
The constitution amendment hearing, which is expected to attract stakeholders from across the South East region, is seen as a key opportunity to push for lasting reforms that could reshape Nigeria’s political and security structure.
