The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking the creation of Ibadan State from the present Oyo State.
The proposed legislation, sponsored by Hon. Abass Adigun, who represents the Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, aims to amend the 1999 Constitution to officially recognise Ibadan as a separate state within Nigeria’s South-West region.
Presenting the bill during Thursday’s plenary, Hon. Adigun described the proposal as “a monumental step toward equitable development and the fulfilment of the long-standing aspirations of the people of Ibadan.” He noted that Ibadan’s population, vast landmass, and administrative capacity make it well qualified for statehood.
According to him, despite Ibadan’s historical significance as the capital of the defunct Western Region, it has yet to attain state status — unlike Enugu and Kaduna, which have since evolved into states after serving similar regional administrative roles.
The debate briefly turned heated when Hon. Adigun compared the size and number of Ibadan’s local governments with those in Bayelsa State, prompting an objection from Bayelsa lawmaker Hon. Obuku Ofurji, who called the remark unnecessary. Adigun later apologised but stood by his core argument for state creation.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, referred the bill to the House Committee on Constitutional Review for further deliberation.
The proposed creation of Ibadan State comes amid ongoing constitutional amendment efforts. Earlier in January, the Deputy Speaker disclosed that the current review process is expected to be completed by December 2025.
Under Section 8(1) of the 1999 Constitution, the creation of a new state requires approval by two-thirds of members representing the affected area in both chambers of the National Assembly, endorsement by the local councils, and ratification through a referendum supported by a majority of states.
No new state has been created in Nigeria since the return to democratic rule in 1999, making the Ibadan State proposal one of the most ambitious constitutional reform efforts in recent years.
