Political leaders from Delta North have firmly rejected proposals suggesting that the proposed Anioma State should be merged with the South-East geopolitical zone, insisting the region must remain within the South-South.
The position was presented during a high-level meeting with the National Assembly’s constitution review committee, where representatives from the district argued that Anioma’s cultural, political and historical identity aligns more closely with the South-South.
Speaking during the session, former Minister of State for Education, Kenneth Gbagi, said the people of Delta North would not accept a reclassification that “distorts the region’s authentic identity.”
“We are Anioma people, and we are part of the South-South. Any arrangement outside this is unacceptable to our people,” he said.
Several traditional and political leaders echoed the sentiment, stressing that the creation of Anioma State should not serve as a tool to “adjust regional boundaries by proxy.”
One delegate reportedly told the panel: “We seek statehood, not annexation. Anioma must stand where it naturally belongs.”
The leaders also argued that shifting the district into the South-East would amount to ignoring decades of political cooperation and socio-economic integration within the South-South zone.
Their submission adds another layer to the complex national debate over state creation and restructuring, as lawmakers continue receiving memoranda from groups across the country.
The constitution review committee is expected to issue an updated draft of proposals in the coming months.
