The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of using the proposed creation of 30 new states as a political strategy to manipulate Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Describing the move as a distraction from the country’s worsening economic and security crises, CHRICED labeled it a “grand deception” orchestrated by the APC-led government.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, CHRICED’s Executive Director, Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi, argued that the APC is merely using the state creation agenda as bait to gain political support, despite knowing that the proposal is unrealistic.
His remarks followed reports that the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution had received proposals for the creation of 30 new states across the country.
Zikirullahi dismissed the move as a political ploy aimed at misleading the public, warning that it would worsen Nigeria’s financial crisis, given that many existing states are already struggling to meet their financial obligations without federal allocations.
“This initiative, which ostensibly aims to address the creation of new states, starkly reflects a troubling misallocation of priorities and a profound insensitivity to the myriad struggles faced by ordinary Nigerians. It is disheartening to witness elected officials, who are meant to represent the interests of their constituents, engaging in such tactics that seem more focused on political manoeuvring than on genuine governance.”
He further argued that the timing of the proposal suggests a calculated attempt to deceive citizens as the 2027 elections approach.
“We interpret this proposal as a calculated strategy designed to mislead unsuspecting citizens into rallying behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the 2027 general elections draw near. The timing and nature of this initiative suggest that its proponents are fully aware of its impracticality and the challenges that lie ahead.”
“The process may be initiated with much fanfare, but we anticipate that it will ultimately be stalled as the elections approach, conveniently justified by the need to take a recess for election activities.
“This tactic serves to create a false sense of hope among those residing in the proposed ‘new states,’ leading them to believe that their support for the APC will somehow translate into the realisation of state creation.”
Zikirullahi also alleged that the APC is using the proposal as a political tool to lure opposition lawmakers into defecting, as many now believe that only the ruling party can guarantee the creation of new states for their constituencies.
He criticized lawmakers for focusing on state creation while neglecting urgent national issues such as inflation, unemployment, insecurity, and the declining value of the naira.
“The current economic climate has left millions of Nigerians struggling to survive, yet our lawmakers are more interested in increasing the cost of governance rather than fixing the economy. This proposal is a gross misallocation of priorities.
“Instead of multiplying unviable states, Nigeria should streamline its governance structure, cut waste, and devolve powers to regional governments. That is the real path to national development.”
However, Zikirullahi acknowledged that one aspect of the proposal deserves serious consideration—the constitutional recognition of Abuja as the 37th state in Nigeria.
“Currently, the original inhabitants grapple with a myriad of challenges, including statelessness, which leaves them without the rights and privileges afforded to citizens of recognised states. Additionally, they face landlessness, as many have been displaced from their ancestral lands due to urban development and government policies.”
“This situation has led to political marginalisation, where their voices and needs are often overlooked in the national discourse, and economic hardship as they struggle to access basic services and opportunities for livelihood.”
CHRICED called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and resist any political gimmicks aimed at turning the country into a one-party state, warning that unchecked power consolidation by the APC could lead to dictatorship.
