The Joint Committee of the National Assembly on Constitution Review has made significant decisions aimed at reforming Nigeria's political landscape, approving the creation of an additional state for the South-East geopolitical zone, endorsing independent candidacy for future elections, and establishing extra legislative seats for women. These far-reaching resolutions were adopted during a two-day closed-door retreat held at the Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, and were jointly presided over by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.

The approval for an additional state in the South-East addresses a long-standing demand for parity among Nigeria's geopolitical zones. The South-East currently has only five states—Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo—which is fewer than the six or seven states found in other geopolitical zones. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who has consistently advocated for this initiative, emphasized that the decision was rooted in principles of equity, justice, and fairness. The motion for the creation of the new state received unanimous support from the committee members; it was proposed by Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) and seconded by Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka (representing the Ifo/Ewekoro federal constituency in Ogun State). This crucial resolution, once ratified by the National Assembly and endorsed by at least 24 state Houses of Assembly as required by the 1999 Constitution, will finally bring the South-East to par with other regions. Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) described the move as "a long-overdue act of fairness and justice," while Kalu lauded it as "a significant milestone for equity and inclusion in Nigeria’s federal structure."

Beyond state creation, the committee also endorsed independent candidacy for future elections, a reform set to transform Nigeria's democratic space. This groundbreaking proposal will, for the first time, allow qualified Nigerians to contest elections without requiring the sponsorship of political parties. The objective is to dismantle the dominance of party oligarchies, expand access to the democratic process, and allow credible, non-partisan individuals to vie for public office on merit. Lawmakers across party lines agreed that allowing independent candidates would strengthen accountability and public trust in the electoral process. This reform, once passed, would necessitate adjustments to the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution to define eligibility, nomination procedures, and campaign financing frameworks for independent candidates.

Furthermore, in a momentous move to boost gender inclusion, the committee approved the creation of one additional legislative seat for women in both chambers of the National Assembly for each state of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This amendment, if ratified, would introduce 37 new seats in the House of Representatives and 36 new seats in the Senate, significantly increasing female representation, which currently stands below 5 percent in Nigeria’s parliament—among the lowest in Africa. This measure aims to address this disparity and align the country with global standards of gender inclusion in governance.

The joint committee also agreed to revisit over 278 pending requests for new local government areas and 55 proposals for new states, setting up a subcommittee to consider the creation of additional states and local government areas across all six geopolitical zones. Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin stressed the importance of securing the support of colleagues in both chambers and state assemblies to ensure these resolutions are successfully ratified during voting, emphasizing the need for nationwide buy-in from all stakeholders.