Senator Osita Izunaso, who represents Imo West, has revealed that the Senate is considering a bill to create a new state—Anim State—in the South-East geopolitical zone.
Speaking during a media parley in Abuja to mark his two years in the National Assembly, Izunaso disclosed that the bill has passed its second reading and is currently before the Constitution Review Committee. He explained that the proposed state would be carved out of parts of Anambra and Imo States.
“This is not a favour—it’s a question of equity. Every other region in the country has six states, except the South-East, which has only five,” he said.
Izunaso pointed out that while the North-West has seven states, the North-East, North-Central, South-West, and South-South zones each have six. According to him, this structural imbalance places the South-East at a disadvantage and fuels dissatisfaction in the region.
“We’re not asking for too much—just what the federal character principle demands,” he added.
The senator emphasised that the process of creating Anim State would be democratic. “You can’t create a state by fiat. It requires a referendum and broad consensus. That’s how democracy works,” he said.
Beyond structural reforms, Izunaso also used the occasion to call for a political solution to the prolonged detention of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who is facing terrorism-related charges.
He argued that releasing Kanu on bail could help calm tensions and reduce insecurity in the South-East. “If granted bail, it could significantly reduce violence in the region. Criminal elements have hijacked the struggle. Once Kanu is released, they’ll lose any legitimacy they claim.”
Izunaso maintained that a combination of conditional bail and dialogue could help de-escalate the crisis. “It may not end the violence completely, but it would make a real difference. Once the original agitation is addressed, any remaining violence becomes a matter of criminality,” he concluded.
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