Senate President Godswill Akpabio has renewed hope for the creation of Ibadan State, describing it as “an incoming state” and the only proposed state in Nigeria being driven by overwhelming popular demand.
Akpabio made the remark on Sunday during a visit to the private residence of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
According to him, the sustained agitation for Ibadan State over the years reflects the collective will of the people and deserves serious consideration within the framework of Nigeria’s constitutional process. “Ibadan State is an incoming state.
It is the only state in Nigeria that is needed to be created by popular demand,” the Senate President was quoted as saying, noting that the Senate would continue to listen to the yearnings of the people as part of its legislative responsibilities.
Akpabio commended the traditional institution in Ibadanland for its stabilising role and acknowledged the city’s historical, political and economic significance in the country.
He said Ibadan’s population size, cultural heritage and contributions to national development strengthen the case for state creation. Oba Ladoja had earlier made a public appeal for the creation of Ibadan State during his installation as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.
The monarch had directed the appeal to President Bola Tinubu, urging the Federal Government to consider the long-standing aspiration of the people of Ibadan and its environs. Oba Ladoja was installed following the death of the 43rd Olubadan, who passed away on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the age of 90.
During the visit, the Olubadan reportedly reiterated the need for political inclusiveness and equitable development, stressing that the creation of Ibadan State would bring governance closer to the people and accelerate development in the region.
The renewed call adds to ongoing national conversations around state creation, which require constitutional amendments and broad consensus across the National Assembly and the states.
