The campaign for the creation of Anioma State has gained major momentum, with 97 senators and President Bola Tinubu reportedly backing the proposal.
This was disclosed by Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North in the National Assembly.
Speaking over the weekend at the Izu Anioma Towns Union event in Abuja, where the Anioma Cultural Festival (Anioma Day) was officially unveiled, Senator Nwoko said the bid for statehood had reached an advanced stage following what he described as “unprecedented legislative support and regional consensus.”
Nwoko explained that the bill, which he first introduced two years ago, seeks to create Anioma State from nine local government areas currently in Delta North Senatorial District four from Aniocha and Oshimili, two from Ika, and three from Ndokwa.
He added that some neighbouring communities, including Igbanke in Edo State, have also expressed interest in joining the proposed state.
“Only one state will be created in Nigeria, and that one state will be Anioma,” Nwoko declared to a cheering audience, describing the level of legislative and political backing as “the strongest in Nigeria’s state creation history.”
According to him, both the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Constitutional Amendment, which comprise representatives from all states, have agreed that the South-East geopolitical zone should be given a sixth state to achieve regional balance.
He said Anioma, by virtue of its cultural and linguistic ties to the South-East, remains the most viable and acceptable candidate to fill that constitutional gap.
The lawmaker also revealed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and President Tinubu have both expressed support for the initiative, with the President reportedly pledging to sign the state creation bill once all constitutional requirements are fulfilled.
“We have done our homework. A lot of lobbying, contacts, and consultations are ongoing. Nothing is being left undone,” Nwoko said.
According to him, a high-level meeting involving governors, traditional rulers, Anioma leaders, and representatives from the South-East will take place in Awka next weekend to formally adopt Anioma as the region’s official candidate for the new state.
Once consensus is achieved, the process will move to the presidency, state assemblies, and governors for endorsement, before being subjected to a national referendum as required by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Senator Nwoko expressed optimism that President Tinubu’s readiness to sign the enabling document would mark a historic milestone, describing the creation of Anioma as a symbol of national unity and fairness.
“I did not start this struggle, but I will finish it. Anioma State will be the beginning of a new era,” he said.
He also emphasised that the realization of Anioma State, alongside the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, would contribute significantly to peace and stability in the South-East region, promoting inclusion and healing long-standing grievances.
Nwoko therefore called for continued unity among Anioma people, stressing that the movement has transcended politics to become a shared vision of cultural identity and regional equity.
