The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has criticized the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the ruling party of using the proposed creation of 31 new states as a political strategy to manipulate Nigerians ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking in Abuja, CHRICED’s Executive Director, Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, described the move as a grand deception designed to divert attention from Nigeria’s deepening economic and security crises.
He argued that the APC was using state creation as bait to gain public support despite knowing that the proposal was unrealistic. The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution recently received proposals for the creation of 31 new states, sparking widespread debate.
Zikirullahi dismissed the initiative as a political gimmick, warning that adding more states would worsen Nigeria’s financial burden, especially since many existing states struggle to pay salaries without federal allocations.
“This initiative reflects a troubling misallocation of priorities and insensitivity to the daily struggles of ordinary Nigerians,” he stated. “Rather than focusing on governance, elected officials are engaging in tactics aimed at political gain.”
He further suggested that the proposal was strategically timed to rally support for the APC as elections approach, despite its impracticality. “The process may begin with fanfare but will likely be abandoned as the elections near, with proponents conveniently citing election-related disruptions,” he added.
