The bid for the creation of Anioma State as the sixth state of the Southeast geopolitical zone has gathered overwhelming momentum, with Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, and 97 other senators throwing their weight behind the proposal.
The initiative, championed by Senator Ned Nwoko (APC – Delta North), seeks to address long-standing issues of equity, justice, and federal balance within Nigeria’s political structure. The proposed state is captured under Senate Bill 481, currently undergoing consideration as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment exercise.
The 90 senators who have endorsed the Anioma State creation far exceed the constitutional requirement of 67 votes, representing a two-thirds majority of the Red Chamber. Political analysts have described this as a significant milestone, suggesting that the proposal now stands a strong chance of scaling through legislative scrutiny and obtaining the necessary concurrence from the House of Representatives.
Some of the top-ranking lawmakers backing the move include Sen. Abba Patrick Moro (Minority Leader), Sen. Adams Oshiomhole (former Edo Governor), Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu (former Abia Governor), Sen. Gbenga Daniel (former Ogun Governor), Sen. Simon Lalong (former Plateau Governor), Sen. Seriake Dickson (former Bayelsa Governor), Sen. Ireti Kingibe (FCT), Sen. Tony Nwoye (Anambra North), and Sen. Victor Umeh (Anambra Central).
The legislative show of solidarity marks one of the rare bipartisan efforts in recent years, with lawmakers across party lines describing the proposal as a “unifying cause for national development.”
Senator Nwoko, the face of the Anioma State movement, had earlier circulated a letter dated May 27, 2025, to the Senate President and all senators, urging their support. In the letter, he emphasized that Anioma State’s creation was not only a matter of federal balance but also crucial for socio-economic development in the Southeast.
“The creation of Anioma State will correct decades of political and economic marginalization while boosting Nigeria’s federal structure for inclusive development,” Nwoko wrote.
The letter, coupled with intense lobbying, appears to have paid off, as senators from outside the Southeast have also embraced the proposal, describing it as a symbol of equity and fairness.
While the Senate’s endorsement is a major leap, the process is far from complete. The bill must still be approved by a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives and secure the support of at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can sign it into law.
Political watchers, however, believe the overwhelming Senate approval will put pressure on other legislative chambers to follow suit.
If approved, Anioma State will become the sixth state in the Southeast, aligning the region with other geopolitical zones that have six states each, except for the North-West with seven. The proposed state is expected to consist largely of Delta North senatorial district, with its capital likely to be Asaba.
The creation of Anioma State is also expected to:
Strengthen political representation for Anioma people
Boost infrastructural and economic development in Delta North
Correct perceived historical injustices and marginalisation in the Southeast
The Anioma State movement has long been a rallying point for Southeast leaders seeking political balance in Nigeria’s federal system. With this latest development, there is renewed optimism that the dream of state creation—often described as one of the most difficult constitutional hurdles—may soon become a reality.
As Senator Nwoko noted, “This is a victory for equity and a step toward a stronger, fairer Nigeria.”