Godswill Akpabio signals the potential dismantling of Delta State to create a 37th Nigerian state

The political map of Nigeria is on the verge of a historic transformation as Senate President Godswill Akpabio throws his weight behind the controversial creation of Anioma State. This move would effectively split Delta State into two distinct entities, marking the first time the country’s internal borders have been redrawn since 1996.

During a high profile political gathering in Asaba, Akpabio confirmed that the upper legislative chamber is prioritizing the proposal, which seeks to establish Asaba as the capital of the new Anioma State while shifting the administrative heart of the remaining Delta region to the oil rich city of Warri.

The architect behind this legislative push, Senator Ned Nwoko, has framed the birth of Anioma as a long overdue correction of historical oversight. Nwoko has boldly described the potential state as a monumental gift from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the Igbo people, a sentiment that has ignited fierce debates regarding ethnic identity and regional boundaries.

While the cultural ties between the Anioma people and the South East are evident, the proposal has hit a significant nerve regarding where the new state would actually sit on the map.

Local leaders and lawmakers within Delta North have voiced a firm stance against being reclassified into the South East geopolitical zone. Despite the push for a separate identity, these influential figures insist that Anioma must remain within the South South region to maintain its existing economic and political alliances. This tug of war over regional belonging adds a layer of complexity to an already rigorous constitutional process.

For this vision to become a reality, the proposal must survive a demanding series of constitutional amendments and secure widespread approval from the National Assembly. While Akpabio argues that a smaller, restructured Delta would bring governance and infrastructure closer to the citizens, critics remain wary of the administrative upheaval such a split would cause. As the 10th Senate moves forward with these deliberations, the fate of Delta State remains one of the most watched political dramas in Nigeria today.