Lawmakers from Delta North and nine council chairmen of the senatorial district have rejected proposals to merge the proposed Anioma State with the South-East region, insisting it must remain part of the South-South geopolitical zone.
In a joint statement released in Asaba on Sunday, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to creating Anioma State from the nine Delta North Local Government Areas — Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Ika North-East, Ika South, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, Oshimili North, Oshimili South, and Ukwuani — with Asaba as the designated capital.
They argued that the South-South alignment reflects the people’s historical, cultural, and administrative roots. According to the statement, the campaign for Anioma State is a generational effort to secure political identity, protect cultural heritage, and accelerate development for the Anioma people.
“Our demand for Anioma State is a just and historic aspiration passed down by our forebears. It is not a fleeting political venture but a legitimate aspiration deeply rooted in history,” the statement said. “We are united in the belief that the creation of Anioma State is a matter of justice, equity, and a necessary step towards fulfilling the political and developmental destiny of the Anioma people.”
The leaders condemned suggestions linking Anioma to the South-East as historically inaccurate and unacceptable, stressing that Anioma’s identity and alignment with the South-South are longstanding and non-negotiable. They pledged to continue defending Anioma’s collective interests as national discussions on state creation progress.
Meanwhile, House of Representatives members from Delta North also repudiated rumours that Asaba could lose its status as the proposed state capital. In a statement jointly issued by Reps Ngozi Okolie, Victor Nwokolo, and Nnamdi Ezechi, they described the speculation as “divisive, unpatriotic, and completely disconnected from the aspirations of the Anioma people.”
The lawmakers emphasised that the capital’s designation is the product of decades of consultations, historical consensus, and political agreement across all Anioma clans. They cautioned against opportunistic campaigns seeking personal relevance under the guise of advocating state creation, stressing that any attempt to reopen the question of the capital would undermine the unity and cultural identity of the Anioma people.
“Asaba stands — without controversy — as the historically agreed capital of Anioma State,” the statement affirmed. The legislators urged residents to remain calm and assured them that they would continue to champion the realization of Anioma State at the National Assembly.
