A bill proposing the creation of a sixth state in Nigeria’s South-East region—tentatively named ANIM State—has passed second reading in the Senate and now moves to the Committee on Constitutional Review for further consideration.
Senator Osita Izunaso (Imo West), who revealed the progress during a press briefing in Abuja to mark his two-year anniversary in the National Assembly, said the new state would be carved out of Anambra and Imo States.
“It’s not a favour, it’s a matter of equity,” Izunaso declared. “Every other region in the country has six states, except the South-East, which has only five.”
Currently, the North-West has seven states, while the North-East, North-Central, South-West, and South-South zones each have six. The South-East remains the only region with five states.
“We’re not asking for too much, just for the balance Nigeria’s federal character demands,” the senator added.
Izunaso emphasized that the proposed state will follow constitutional procedures, including a referendum, and warned against opposition to the move.
“You can’t create a state by fiat,” he said. “People must agree through a referendum. That’s how democracy works.”
Alongside his push for structural equity, Senator Izunaso reignited calls for a political resolution in the case of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), currently facing terrorism-related charges.
“I have consistently advocated that the Federal Government give Nnamdi Kanu’s case political consideration,” he stated. “If granted bail, it could significantly reduce insecurity in the region.”
His remarks follow a court order to move Kanu’s trial to the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters, to inspect a shipping container allegedly used to import a radio transmitter for Radio Biafra.
“Criminal elements have hijacked the struggle. Once Kanu is released, they’ll lose any legitimacy they claim,” Izunaso argued. “I’m not saying it will stop the violence 100 percent, but it will go a long way.”
The senator’s dual advocacy—pushing for a new state and de-escalation through dialogue—reflects the South-East’s long-standing call for inclusion and a political path out of unrest.
