Is APC's New Strategy a Political Deception with creation of state for 2027?

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has been accused by the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) of employing the proposed establishment of 30 new states as a political tactic to mislead Nigerians in anticipation of the 2027 general elections.

The organisation characterised the action as a major ruse and diversion engineered by the APC-led government to shift focus away from the deteriorating economic and security situations in the country.

During a briefing with journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi, the Executive Director of CHRICED, noted that the APC is leveraging state creation as a lure for support in the lead-up to 2027, fully aware that the proposal lacks feasibility.

Last week, proposals for the establishment of 30 new states nationwide were submitted to the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.

However, Zikirullahi stated that the action was simply a political tactic intended to deceive the public.

He cautioned that the establishment of more states would exacerbate Nigeria's financial crisis, given that most current states are already having difficulty paying workers' salaries in the absence of federal allocations.

He stated: “This initiative, which seems to target the creation of new states, vividly illustrates a concerning misalignment of priorities and a deep insensitivity to the countless challenges that everyday Nigerians encounter.

It is discouraging to see that elected representatives, whose role is to advocate for their constituents’ interests, resort to tactics that appear more concerned with political maneuvering than with authentic governance.

“We view this proposal as a calculated tactic aimed at deceiving unaware citizens into supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the 2027 general elections approach. The nature and timing of this initiative imply that its advocates are completely cognizant of how impractical it is and the difficulties ahead.

“Although the process might start with great ceremony, we expect it will be delayed as the elections draw near, conveniently rationalized by the necessity for a break for election activities.

“This strategy aims to foster an illusory hope in those living in the proposed ‘new states,’ causing them to think that backing the APC will bring about state creation.”

He also claimed that the APC is taking advantage of the proposal to entice opposition lawmakers to switch sides, as many now think that only the ruling party can ensure new states are created for their constituents.

He criticized the legislators for placing greater importance on creating states than on urgent national problems like inflation, unemployment, insecurity, and the naira's rapid decline.

He stated, “The ongoing economic situation has resulted in millions of Nigerians fighting for survival, but our legislators are focusing on raising governance costs instead of addressing the economy.

This proposal misallocates priorities on a large scale.

“To avoid multiplying unviable states, Nigeria should focus on streamlining its governance structure, reducing waste, and devolving powers to regional governments. It is the genuine way to achieve national development.

Zikirullahi, however, stated that the only part of the proposal deserving of serious consideration is to constitutionally recognize Abuja as the 37th state in the Nigerian federation.

He stated that this acknowledgment would serve to not only symbolize the inclusion of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) within the larger national framework but also tackle the urgent issues faced by the indigenous population.