By Adenike Lawal
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has renewed calls for the creation of an additional state in Nigeria’s South-East, citing the region’s underrepresentation in the country’s geopolitical structure.
Speaking during a visit by members of the Senate Committee on Constitution Amendment at the Enugu Government House on Thursday, Mbah said the constitutional review offers a vital opportunity to correct longstanding structural imbalances.
“We are the only region with just five states,” Mbah said. “This is a clear inequality that carries political and developmental implications. It is time this anomaly was addressed.”
He also reiterated the South-East’s longstanding demand for a rotational presidency to promote national unity and ensure every region has a fair chance at producing the president.
On security, the governor pushed for the establishment of state police, arguing that the current centralized policing model is inadequate in tackling localized security threats.
“This is no longer a matter of debate, it is a necessity,” Mbah said. “Our communities are fragile, and we need a security structure that reflects local realities, with defined jurisdictions and operational clarity for state-controlled police forces.”
The governor’s remarks come ahead of a regional public hearing on constitutional amendments scheduled to hold in Enugu on Friday.
He confirmed that the state would present its official position at the hearing and in follow-up engagements with the committee.
Earlier, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate and leader of the delegation, said the visit aimed to gather the views of South-East residents as part of the constitution review process.
He acknowledged widespread criticism of the 1999 Constitution for its military-era origins and failure to reflect Nigeria’s diverse regional interests.
“The South-East feels shortchanged, especially when compared with other zones in terms of state representation,” Nwebonyi said. “This review is a chance to begin correcting those historical imbalances.”
As the public hearing approaches, key demands from the South-East state creation, rotational presidency, and decentralised policing are expected to dominate the regional submissions.
