Leaders from Nigeria’s South-East region have called for major changes to the country’s constitution, including the adoption of a rotational presidency system and greater political inclusion for women.

These demands were made during a constitutional review public hearing held in Enugu and organized by the Senate. At the event, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia stressed the need for the presidency to rotate among the six geopolitical zones. He said such an arrangement would ensure fairness and help unify the country.

The governor also proposed that governorship positions rotate among senatorial zones within each state, and that legislative seats be distributed among constituencies to promote wider participation in governance. In addition, he advocated for increased female representation in politics, suggesting that each state be given one more Senate seat and two more House of Representatives seats for women. He also proposed that state assemblies include three additional seats for women per state.

On local government reforms, Mbah called for full autonomy for local councils. He criticized the practice of appointing caretaker committees, saying it weakens grassroots governance. He urged the National Assembly to amend the constitution to allow local governments to operate independently and receive funds directly from the federal account.

The Enugu governor also emphasized the need to transfer more powers and resources from the federal government to the states. According to him, the current centralized structure, inherited from military rule, hinders development at the state level.

Meanwhile, Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru represented by the Speaker of the State Assembly, Moses Odunwa, renewed calls for the creation of a sixth state in the South-East to match other regions. He also backed the idea of reserved elective positions for women, saying that political parties should be mandated to field female candidates for such seats.

The chairman of the hearing, Senator Peter Nwaebonyi, said the purpose of the exercise was to hear the views of South-East residents as lawmakers continue the constitutional amendment process. He acknowledged the region’s concerns about being underrepresented, particularly since it currently has only five states.

The session drew participation from traditional rulers, civil society organizations, NGOs, and various stakeholders committed to seeing more equity and inclusiveness in Nigeria’s political structure.