Full List of 17 LGAs that Make Up Proposed ‘Etiti’ State, Agitation Dates Back to 2014 National Conference
On July 11, 2024 a bill seeking the alteration of the constitution to create additional states in the Southeast geopolitical zone passed second reading in the House of Representatives. However, due to the plethora of similar bills, the House consolidated bill among others and referred it to the House Committee on Constitution Review Chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.
The bill is sponsored by Hon. Amaobi odwin Ogah, lawmaker representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency of Abia State alongside, Hon. Miriam Onuoha, Okigwe North/ Onuimo/Isiala Mbano federal constituency of Imo State, Hon. Kama Nkemkanma Kama, Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency, Ebonyi State, Hon. Princess Nnabuife, Orumba North and South Federal Constituency of Anambra State and Hon. Anayo Onwuegbu, Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency of Enugu State.
In his lead debate in support of the bill, Hon Ogah stated that, “The establishment of Etiti State is not just a matter of administrative convenience but a step towards ensuring balanced regional development and effective governance.
Speaking further, Hon. Ogah, a member of the Labour Party (LP) reiterated that the creation of Etiti State will be a positive response to “aspirations of the people of a very important region to this country and aligns with the principles of equity and inclusivity enshrined in our democratic ideals.”
Etiti State Dates Back to 2014 National Conference
As the name, “Etiti” which translates to “middle” the state when created will be carved out of the existing five states in the Southeast. The state is proposed to be made up of 17 local government areas pulled from the existing five states.
The agitation for the creation of Etiti State dates back to the 2014 national conference convened by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. In the conference, Southeast delegates were unanimous in their agreement that Etiti State should be created an equalizer for the Southeast geopolitical zone.
According to Elder statesman and pioneer Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Chief Chuku Wachukwu in an interview he granted the Vanguard newspaper in July 2025. He affirmed that, indeed, the Southeast delegates preferred Etiti State to any other proposed state in the zone. He said:
“I was a senior member of the South East delegates at the 2014 confab. Our leader was Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (retd), and our recommendation on additional state for the South East was very clear.
“Our joint recommendation was Etiti State followed by Aba State in that order. We agreed that Etiti State be created first, and if any other state would be, it should be Aba.
“All these people agitating for other states are not being fair. We settled for Aba as the next after Etiti because Aba is the only Old Province in Nigeria that has not become a State.”
Corroborating the the preference for Etiti State, another member of the 2014 national conference and All Progressive Grand Alliance( APGA) governorship candidate in Abia State during the 2023 general election, Professor Greg Ibe, also affirmed that Etiti State was the consensus preference of the people of the southeast
In a statement he issued after the second reading passage of the bill in the House of Representatives, the APGA chieftain stated that, “the icing on the cake is the recent motion sponsored by some members of the caucus for the creation of Etiti State. Being a project that the South East Delegation of the 2014 National Conference under the leadership of Gen. Ike Nwachukwu(retd.) championed, in my capacity as consultant to the delegation, I have since 2014, passionately fought for the realization of Etiti State.
“I am glad that the vision we birthed is now being given legislative attention through the gallant efforts of some members of the caucus.
“Going forward, I want to appeal to all stakeholders within our region to support this move by joining forces with our Representatives in a bid to realize an additional equalising state within the zone, that will be created by equitably annexing Local Government Councils from each of the present five states that constitute the South East and that is a central state called Etiti”.
With the approval of creation of additional state in the Southeast by the joint committee of the National Assembly, Etiti State is believed to be the favourite and most preferred.
Below is the composition of the proposed state:
IMỌ STATE:
Okigwe
Onuimo
Isiala Mbano
Ehime Mbano
Obowo
Ihitte/Uboma
Ideato North
ABIA STATE:
Isuikwuato
Umunneochi
EBONYI STATE:
Onicha
Ohaozara
Ivo
ANAMBRA STATE:
Orumba North
Orumba South
ENUGU STATE:
Awgu
Oji River
Aninri
