The push for the creation of Anioma State as the sixth state in Nigeria’s Southeast region has received significant backing in the National Assembly, with at least 90 Senators in the upper legislative chamber throwing their weight behind the proposal.
Top-ranking lawmakers, including the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and Senate Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, are among those who have publicly endorsed the initiative, which now enjoys overwhelming support beyond the required constitutional threshold.
The surge in legislative support follows sustained advocacy by Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North Senatorial District under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Nwoko, a leading proponent of the Anioma State campaign, had written to the Senate President and his colleagues on May 27, 2025, urging them to support the proposal on the grounds of equity, justice, national development, and federal balance.
The proposal, formally presented as Senate Bill 481, is currently under consideration as part of the broader constitutional amendment process underway in the National Assembly.
With 90 Senators already signed on, the bill has comfortably surpassed the two-thirds majority requirement of 67 Senators for constitutional amendments. Political analysts say this marks a critical step toward the realization of Anioma State, which has long been viewed as a project to address historical imbalance in the Southeast geopolitical zone.
The list of supporters continues to grow, with indications that more lawmakers are likely to endorse the proposal in the coming weeks, further solidifying its legislative prospects.
Among other notable figures backing the initiative are Senate Minority Leader Abba Patrick Moro, former governors Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), and Victor Umeh, a prominent Southeast political leader.
Also on board are Senator Gbenga Daniel (former Ogun governor), Senator Ireti Kingibe (FCT), Senator Simon Lalong (former Plateau governor), and Senator Tony Nwoye (Anambra North), among others.
The strong show of bipartisan support underscores growing consensus on the need for greater inclusivity and balanced representation in Nigeria’s federal structure, with Anioma State seen as a pivotal addition to the Southeast.
