Senator representing Delta North, Ned Nwoko, has called on political leaders and stakeholders across the South-East to rally behind the creation of Anioma State, as the sixth state of the zone.

He urged a unified approach to what he described as a historic and strategic opportunity for the Igbo nation. Nwoko, in a statement released in Abuja, said the time has come for proponents of various state creation movements in the South-East to set aside individual agitations and consolidate support for Anioma State.

This call comes as the campaign for Anioma State gathers momentum within the national discourse. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, recently reaffirmed legislative and political backing for the initiative, noting that the administration of President Bola Tinubu remains committed to its realisation.

Nwoko noted Akpabio’s description of the Anioma agitation as historically justified, anchored on equity, administrative efficiency, and balanced national development.

According to him, the current campaign enjoys priority attention in the 10th Senate and holds strong potential to unlock socio-economic growth.

Meanwhile, the Media and Publicity Director of the Anioma State Creation Technical Committee, Tonnie Oganah, has stated that the long-running agitation for Anioma State has entered its most advanced legislative phase, with stakeholders increasingly linking the movement to broader political alignments within President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s national structure.

Oganah, in an interview, said that the push for state creation is beginning to gain momentum, stressing that the process has progressed significantly through the National Assembly and is now approaching critical legislative milestones.

He noted that the bill has scaled major hurdles and is advancing toward its third reading, after which harmonisation between the Senate and the House of Representatives would follow before a referendum conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to him, the referendum would present a simple question to residents: whether they want the creation of Anioma State, without political complications such as leadership contests attached.

Oganah credited Senate leadership, particularly Senate President Godswill Akpabio, for the smooth legislative progression of the proposal, while also noting that broad political support is emerging across party lines, including governors from different political platforms.

He argued that despite Nigeria’s multiparty structure, virtually every governor is aligned in one way or another, suggesting that state assemblies remain a decisive factor in determining the bill’s final success. (The Guardian)