A proposal to carve out Anioma State from the present Delta State has received overwhelming backing from members of the Senate, with at least 90 lawmakers endorsing the initiative.
Among the high-profile supporters reported by Businessday are Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, and Senate Minority Leader Abba Patrick Moro.
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The list of backers also includes several ex-governors now serving in the upper chamber, such as Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), and Simon Lalong (Plateau).
Other notable signatories include Ireti Kingibe (FCT) and Tony Nwoye (Anambra), among many others.
With over 90 senators signing in favor, the motion has comfortably surpassed the constitutional threshold of 67 senators—two-thirds of the chamber—required to move a bill forward in the Senate.
This groundswell of support follows months of advocacy by Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, who has spearheaded the campaign for Anioma State.
In a letter dated May 27, 2025, Nwoko urged the Senate President and his fellow lawmakers to back the cause. He justified the proposal on the basis of “equity, justice, national development, and federal balance,” emphasizing that the creation of Anioma State would help redress historical imbalances.
The request is encapsulated in Senate Bill 481, which is being reviewed as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process.
