ASABA/Nigeria: As momentum builds for the creation of Anioma State, 85 senators of the 10th National Assembly have thrown their weight behind the initiative, signaling strong legislative support ahead of the zonal public hearings scheduled for July 4 and 5.
The endorsements come amid nationwide backing for the constitutional amendment, which includes proposals for new states. The Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution is set to hold simultaneous hearings in Lagos, Enugu, Ikot Ekpene, Jos, Maiduguri, and Kano to gauge public sentiment and review inputs.
The growing support is being spearheaded by Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North Senatorial District. Nwoko, in a letter dated May 27, 2025, appealed directly to his colleagues, urging them to endorse the constitutional proposal encapsulated in Senate Bill 481. The bill seeks the creation of Anioma State out of the current Delta State to address the imbalance in Nigeria’s federal structure.
“Anioma State, to be carved from Delta State, is a just and logical solution to this imbalance,” Nwoko wrote. “Let us be remembered as the Senate that brought balance to Nigeria’s state structure and healed a longstanding national wound.”
Nwoko emphasized that the South-East remains the only geopolitical zone with five states, while others have six or seven, making the creation of Anioma State not just a political exercise but an act of justice and equity.
He described Anioma as culturally and historically tied to the South-East, noting that its creation would not only correct a geopolitical imbalance but also foster national unity and strengthen the voice of the Igbo nation.
In a separate letter dated May 15, 2025, the Ndigbo Progressive Traditional Rulers Forum also declared their support for the state’s creation. The statement, signed by HRM Eze Nnamdi Ofoegbu (Oroko Abia), Chairman of the Forum, and HRM Igwe Sunny Orah, Secretary, praised Nwoko’s leadership and called the move a “historic endeavour.”
“Your vision, passion, and courage in championing this noble cause resonate deeply with our mission as traditional rulers to uphold unity and fairness among all Igbo people,” the monarchs said.
They pledged their royal backing to ensure the realization of Anioma State, promising to “collaborate in every constructive way possible.”
With more senators expected to sign on in the coming weeks and public hearings drawing near, the push for Anioma State is quickly becoming a defining feature of the ongoing constitutional reform process.
