A GRAPHIC circulating on social media claims that the Federal Government of Nigeria has officially announced the relocation of Kwara State from the North Central geopolitical zone to the South West.
The picture alleges that as part of this boundary restructuring, the state will also be renamed “Odo Oya State” with the change expected to take official effect from October 1st, 2026.
The claim has been widely shared across Facebook groups here and here, triggering debates among users over the political implications of the purported realignment.
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CLAIM
Kwara State is moving to the South West geopolitical zone and changing its name to Odo Oya State on October 1st, 2026.
FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.
On February 7, 2025, BBC reported that the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review made a proposal to the government for creation of new states in the country. The chairman of the committee, Benjamin Kalu proposed the creation of six new states for North Central, four for North East, five for North West, five for South East, four for South-South and seven for South West.
Similarly, on January 29, 2026, Legit.ng reported all the additional states proposed for creation in the Southwest region, beyond the six existing states. Which were: Ijebu State from Ogun State, Coastal State from Ondo State, Igbomina State from parts of Osun, Ekiti and Kwara States, Ibadan State from Oyo State, and New Oyo State from Oyo State
However, a look at the actual ongoing legislative proposals and bills reveals that none of them mention moving Kwara State out of the North Central zone, nor do they include any plans to rename it as Odo Oya State.
A reverse image search conducted by The FactCheckHub on the graphic shared showed that it did not originate from any official government channel. The flyer, which mimics an official federal government announcement by using national emblems and a photograph of President Bola Tinubu, is completely fabricated and has not been published by any credible or verified media organisations.
Furthermore, changing a state’s name or altering geopolitical boundaries in Nigeria is a statutory process governed by Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution. It requires a two-thirds majority vote in the National Assembly, a formal referendum, and approval by at least 24 State Houses of Assembly. No such legal or legislative steps have been taken concerning Kwara State.
VERDICT
The claim that Kwara State is moving to the South West and changing its name to Odo Oya State is FALSE. The misleading graphic is digitally manipulated and does not originate from any official government channel.
Seasoned writer and literary curator, Zainab Abdulrasaq is a factchecker for The FactCheckHub in an effort to combat information disorder. She can be reached on IG @blackbookishgirl or zabdulrasaq@icirnigeria.org
