A bill seeking the creation of Ibadan State championed by Hon. Abass Adigun Agboworin, representing Ibadan North East/South East federal constituency has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.
The bill, which proposes amending the 1999 Constitution to carve Ibadan State out of the current Oyo State, received significant backing during Thursday’s plenary session. Agboworin, a two-term lawmaker and Chairman of the House Committee on Narcotic Drugs, led the debate with a compelling case rooted in historical context, population size, and the aspirations of the Ibadan people.
He argued that while former regional capitals such as Enugu and Kaduna have long been granted state status, Ibadan—once the capital of the old Western Region—has not. “This bill is a monumental step towards equitable development through federalism and the realisation of a long-held aspiration,” Agboworin stated.
Citing population and landmass, he noted that one local government in Ibadan exceeds the combined population of three local governments in Bayelsa State, underscoring the city’s readiness for statehood.
The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, referred the bill to the Committee on Constitutional Review for further legislative action.
The bill aligns with increasing calls for restructuring and state creation across the country. It also echoes recent remarks by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, who had urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure the creation of Ibadan State before 2027.
