In a significant ruling, the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has rejected a case that sought the creation of a sixth state in Nigeria’s Southeast geopolitical zone. The court determined that Nigeria’s current political structure does not violate regional or international human rights laws.
The case, Case No. ECW/CCJ/APP/32/23, was brought by a Nigerian non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Switzerland. The NGO claimed that the federal government’s failure to create a sixth state in the Southeast was a form of discrimination, depriving the region of crucial developmental resources such as infrastructure, revenue allocations, and employment opportunities.
However, in its unanimous decision, the ECOWAS court found no evidence of discrimination or any harmful impact on the Southeast. The court ruled that the creation of states is a constitutional matter within Nigeria’s governmental authority, and it acknowledged that the Southeast is already adequately represented in the country’s governance.
The court further clarified that the NGO failed to demonstrate a direct link between the lack of a sixth state and the region’s alleged developmental setbacks. Additionally, a second Switzerland-based NGO involved in the case was removed from the proceedings due to lack of jurisdiction.
In its final judgment, the ECOWAS court emphasized that while the creation of additional states may not guarantee developmental success, the Nigerian government had not violated any of its obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights or the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The ruling effectively closes the chapter on this particular legal challenge, affirming the status quo of Nigeria’s geopolitical structure.
