[3] MMAA 201 provided for the creation of a new province comprising the nine municipalities of Barira, Buldon, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Parang, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, and Upi, all of the first legislative district of the province of Maguindanao.

Maguindanao Governor Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr. originally pushed for the creation of the new province to "decentralize governance and maximize development in poor Muslim communities, most of which have been areas of armed conflict for decades.

"[5] He and his son ARMM Regional Governor Zaldy Ampatuan, campaigned for the creation of Shariff Kabunsuan to better extend government services to residents, particularly those in the "precipitous" parts of the area.

[6] The Shariff Kabunsuan creation plebiscite was supervised and officiated by the COMELEC pursuant to Resolution No.

[1] By 2008, in Sema v. COMELEC and Dilangalen, the Supreme Court ruled the creation of the province as unconstitutional, as the constitution only gives Congress the power of creating legislative districts; this means that provinces and cities, which are made up of legislative districts, can only be created by a Republic Act made by Congress.