By Zara Maisango
In a landmark decision, the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has dismissed a legal challenge seeking the creation of a sixth state in Nigeria’s South-East region, ruling that the country has not violated any regional or international human rights laws.
The case was filed by petitioners who argued that the South-East, with only five states compared to six in other geopolitical zones, faced political and economic marginalization. They claimed that this imbalance limited the region’s representation in governance and access to national resources. However, the ECOWAS Court ruled that the matter falls within Nigeria’s internal political framework and does not constitute a human rights violation warranting regional judicial intervention.
The ruling has sparked mixed reactions. Supporters of Nigeria’s current structure view it as a victory for national stability, while advocates of a sixth South-East state see it as a setback in their push for greater political inclusion. Some analysts argue that the decision underscores the broader issue of structural inequalities in Nigeria’s governance system, which may continue to fuel demands for constitutional reforms.
Despite the dismissal, proponents of restructuring insist that the call for a more balanced geopolitical arrangement is far from over. The ruling highlights that any meaningful changes to Nigeria’s structure must come through legislative and political engagement rather than external legal rulings.