The campaign for the creation of Anioma State has received renewed momentum following a meeting between Senator Ned Nwoko, traditional rulers, members of the Technical Committee on Anioma State Creation and other stakeholders.

The meeting, held yesterday at the palace of the Obuzor of Ibusa, HRM Obi Prof. Louis Chelunor Nwaoboshi, chairman of the Technical Committee, brought together representatives of Izu Anioma, Odu Oma Club, Anioma Youth Council and other groups involved in the state creation campaign.

Nwoko, who represents Delta North Senatorial District, has been one of the prominent advocates of the proposed state.

The closed-door meeting was described as a constituency briefing to review progress made on the Anioma State project and consider the next steps in the campaign.

Although details of the discussions were not made public, participants said the meeting reaffirmed their determination to sustain the agitation beyond the 2027 general elections irrespective of political developments.

Nwoko was said to have assured the stakeholders that the aspiration for Anioma State remained alive.

The meeting, however, focused largely on the broader state creation campaign rather than Nwoko’s political future.

Stakeholders reportedly stressed that the agitation should remain a collective project of the Anioma people and should not be tied to any individual, political party or electoral contest.

The demand for Anioma State has been pursued for several years by traditional rulers, political leaders, professionals, youth organisations, community groups and advocacy bodies across the Anioma-speaking areas.

A member of the Technical Committee, Dr Christopher Nwayalani, said stakeholders agreed on the need to sustain engagement and advocacy regardless of the outcome of the 2027 elections or whoever eventually represents Delta North in the Senate.

Nwayalani said the proposed state was being championed as a new political and administrative entity to be carved out of the present Delta State, with supporters seeking its recognition as Nigeria’s 37th state.

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He said: “The Technical Committee has continued to engage traditional institutions, political leaders, community groups and other stakeholders as part of efforts to advance the proposal.

“The latest meeting also highlighted the importance of unity among the various groups involved in the campaign, particularly given their different political affiliations and interests.”

Nwayalani noted that the creation of a new state ultimately required constitutional and legislative processes, making sustained advocacy, broad stakeholder engagement and consensus-building critical to the campaign.

He said yesterday’s meeting provided another opportunity for stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to the long-running aspiration.

According to him, the pursuit of Anioma State should transcend individual political ambitions and remain focused on the collective interests of the Anioma people. (The Nation)