Okowa Backs Anioma State, Questions Nwoko’s Approach

ASABA, Nigeria – Former Delta State Governor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has thrown his weight behind the creation of Anioma State but insisted the process must reflect the collective will of the people across Delta North.

He made the position known on Wednesday during a consultation meeting with stakeholders in Oshimili South Local Government Area, an outreach widely seen as part of his preparation for a possible 2027 Senate bid.

NaijaChoice News reports that Okowa reaffirmed his long-held support for the new state while subtly questioning the style and motives of Senator Ned Nwoko, who has led the renewed campaign.

The ex-governor warned against allowing the agitation to become a tool for personal political ambition rather than a genuine grassroots demand.

He stressed that any Anioma State must include all nine local government areas of Delta North and remain firmly within the South-South geopolitical zone, with Asaba as its capital.

The push for Anioma has spanned decades, rooted in calls for better administrative autonomy, fairer resource allocation and accelerated development in the region.

Supporters, including Nwoko, argue that the new state would correct historical marginalisation and strengthen governance for the Anioma people.

Okowa’s remarks highlight growing divisions among Delta North leaders over the proposed state’s geopolitical alignment, especially amid claims linking it to the South-East.

Political observers say the former governor’s intervention could reshape the debate as consultations intensify across the senatorial district.