The House of Representatives on Thursday took a step towards the creation of a new state in the South-East geo-political zone of the country.

PUNCH Online reports that lawmakers on the floor of the House during Thursday’s plenary passed a bill for first reading for the creation of Orlu State.

The bill sponsored by the member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency, Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere and others is now set for a second reading.

According to the draft bill, the creation of Orlu State will alter the 1999 Constitution (as amended), increasing the number of states in the federation from 36 to 37.

The new state will be carved out from Imo, Abia, and Anambra States, with Orlu as its capital city.

The bill also seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution by inserting a new paragraph, which will include 28 local government areas, namely Orlu, Orsu, Oru West, Oru East, Ideato North, Ideato South, Njaba, Nkwerre, Nwangele, Isu, Oguta, Ohaji Egbema, Onuimo, Ihiala, Uga, Ihiala, Uli, Ozubulu, Akokwa, Arondizuogu, Umuchu, Umunze, Umuaku, New Ideato North, Nwabosi West, Nwabosi East, Owerre Nkworji, Alaoma, Amaifeke, and Owerrebiri Umuowa.

Ugochinyere, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party the lead sponsor of the bill, appealed to his colleagues at the National Assembly to support the bill to ensure its passage through a second reading.

He stated that the creation of Orlu State would lead to the emergence of Ideato as a senatorial district.

In the current political configuration, the North-West comprises seven states while the North-East, North-Central, South-South and South-West consist of six states each. Only the South-East has five states.

However, the South-West is seeking the creation of Oke-Ogun State, which when created, would bring it at par with the North-West. (The PUNCH)