By Lucy Ezeliora
In a bold and politically charged statement that could redefine the political equilibrium in Delta State, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has thrown the full weight of the party, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, behind the creation of Anioma State, declaring it a “done deal.”
The declaration came during a high-stakes rally in Agbor, Ika south local government Area, where a formidable lineup of APC stalwarts, including Edo State Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, NDDC Board Chairman Chiedu Ebie, and Senator Ned Nwoko, energized a massive crowd of supporters and new party defectors.
The event marked a decisive moment of political realignment, as waves of defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Delta United Group (DUG) crossed over to the APC, signaling a significant shift in local allegiance.
Ganduje, speaking with deliberate authority, assured the Anioma people that the creation of Anioma State is not merely a campaign promise, but a settled outcome.
“I bring you assurances from President Tinubu, our governors, the National Assembly, and the entire APC structure, Anioma State is no longer a dream, it is a done deal,” he declared to thunderous applause.
Ganduje positioned the proposed state as a corrective measure to decades of regional imbalance and marginalization in Delta North, emphasizing that its creation would advance national integration and equitable development.
Central to the movement is Senator Ned Nwoko, whose relentless push for Anioma State has gained unprecedented momentum. Recently defecting from the PDP to the APC, Nwoko has galvanized support through legislative advocacy, grassroots mobilization, and strategic political alliances.
“For the first time, Anioma has come this far in the struggle for statehood,” Nwoko asserted. “Anioma State means our own governor, senators, and a meaningful share in national development.”
He cited economic empowerment, job creation, federal infrastructure, and youth development as critical benefits of the proposed state.
“This is about securing our future—more schools, better roads, functioning hospitals, and a greater federal presence,” he stated, adding that over N30 billion worth of federal projects have already been secured for Anioma communities, including the revitalization of the Ogwashi-Uku Earth Dam and key expressways.
Nwoko further revealed that the initiative enjoys backing from high-ranking national figures, underscoring its viability and urgency.
“We’ve been assured at the highest levels: push from your end, and we’ll deliver from the center,” he noted.
Addressing concerns about political fragmentation, Nwoko insisted the movement is driven by the need for development—not division.
“Anioma State is about progress, representation, and justice. We want a state where our people can thrive and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s future,” he said.
With Nwoko’s high-profile defection and Ganduje’s emphatic endorsement, the APC has not only disrupted Delta’s long-standing PDP dominance but also placed Anioma State creation squarely on the national agenda, no longer a distant aspiration, but an imminent political reality.
