Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North has expressed strong support for the creation of Anioma State from the present Delta State, arguing that it should be recognized as the sixth state in the South-East geopolitical zone.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Kalu, a former Abia State governor, emphasized that adding Anioma to the South-East would help address the long-standing issue of Igbo marginalization in Nigeria’s state structure.
“Anioma State should be created as the sixth South-East state. It is the only viable option,” Kalu said.
“Anioma people are Igbos, and they have never denied their identity.”
The proposal for Anioma State has been spearheaded by Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North, who argues that its creation would correct a historical oversight and restore balance to Nigeria’s geopolitical arrangement.
Nwoko pointed out that the South-East is the only zone with just five states, compared to six in most other regions and seven in the North-West.
This imbalance, he noted, has led to fewer representatives from the South-East in the Senate (15 lawmakers) compared to 18 from other zones.
The proposed Anioma State would be carved out from nine local government areas in Delta State, aligning the South-East with the rest of the country in terms of state distribution.
Despite the strong advocacy for Anioma, the House of Representatives Committee on State Creation recently rejected all 31 proposals for new states across Nigeria, citing failure to meet constitutional requirements.
According to the committee, none of the requests—including that for Anioma—met the necessary legal and administrative conditions for consideration.
While the rejection presents a setback, proponents like Kalu and Nwoko remain hopeful that Anioma’s inclusion in the South-East will eventually gain political backing.
The issue continues to fuel discussions about equitable representation and structural reforms in Nigeria’s governance system.
