 Oyo State is on the verge of being divided into two distinct states, following a bill sponsored by Akeem Adeyemi, son of the late Alaafin of Oyo, alongside six federal lawmakers in the House of Representatives. The bill has successfully passed its second reading in the National Assembly.
According to the proposal, a new state named “Oyo” would be carved out, with Oyo town as its capital, while Ibadan would remain the capital of the second state, now renamed “Ibadan State.”Â
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, describing the bill as “straightforward legislation,” allowed it to pass without debate. This is not the first time efforts have been made to divide Oyo State, as previous attempts to create Oke-Ogun and Ibadan states have failed.
Meanwhile, another bill, sponsored by Oluwole Oke, seeks to establish Oke-Ogun State. Oyo State, originally formed from the former Western State on February 3, 1976, during General Murtala Mohammed’s military regime, has experienced state boundary changes before, with Osun State being created from it in 1991.
The bill has now been referred to the Committee on Constitutional Review for further consideration. Since the 10th National Assembly began, there have been multiple bills proposing new states as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process.Â
These proposals have emerged from various regions, particularly the Southeast and Southwest. If successful, this would mark the first time in Nigeria’s history that a new state would be created under a democratic government.
