The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of using the proposed creation of 30 new states as a political strategy to deceive Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The organisation described the move as a grand deception and distraction orchestrated by the APC-led government to divert attention from the country’s worsening economic and security crises, reports The Guardian.
Briefing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, CHRICED’s Executive Director, Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi, observed that the APC is using state creation as bait to win support ahead of 2027, knowing fully well that the proposal is unrealistic.
The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution had last week received proposals for the creation of 30 new states across the country.
Zikirullahi, however, said the move was a mere political ploy designed to mislead the public.
He warned that creating additional states would worsen Nigeria’s financial crisis, as most existing states are already struggling to pay workers’ salaries without federal allocations.
He said: “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.
“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.”
He further alleged that the APC is exploiting the proposal to lure opposition lawmakers into defecting, as many now believe only the ruling party can secure the creation of new states for their constituents.
He faulted the lawmakers for prioritising state creation over pressing national issues such as inflation, unemployment, insecurity, and the freefall of the naira.
He said, “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.”
Zikirullahi, however, said the sole aspect of the proposal that should be given serious consideration is the constitutional recognition of Abuja as the 37th state within the Nigerian federation.
He said this recognition would not only symbolise the inclusion of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) within the broader national framework but also address the pressing concerns of the indigenous people.
“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,” the CHRICED boss added.
The group urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and resist any political gimmick aimed at turning the country into a one-party state, warning that allowing the APC to consolidate unchecked power could lead to dictatorship.
