Kanu Release: IPOB Knocks Soludo Over Aide’s Attack on Obi

The Indigenous People of Biafra has come out in support of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, over his renewed call for the release of the group’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The group’s reaction followed criticism directed at Obi by Ejimofor Opara, the Special Adviser on Media to Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo. Opara had reacted after Obi reportedly stated during an interaction with Nigerians in Washington, D.C., that there was no reason for Kanu to remain in detention.

Obi’s comments, which circulated widely on social media, reignited discussions surrounding the continued imprisonment of the IPOB leader. The former Anambra governor maintained that he had consistently supported Kanu’s release and believed the matter should be resolved.

Reacting to Obi’s remarks, Opara argued that such a position was unfair to the Nigerian judicial system and also ignored legal actions taken in Finland against Simon Ekpa, who has often been linked to the separatist movement.

However, IPOB rejected the criticism and turned its attention to Governor Soludo. In its statement, the group accused the governor of changing his stance on Kanu’s case for political reasons.

The organisation recalled that Soludo had previously visited Kanu while he was in the custody of the Department of State Services and had publicly supported efforts aimed at securing his freedom. IPOB also referred to comments by government officials in Anambra State that suggested attempts were being made to facilitate Kanu’s release.

According to the group, the current position being expressed by Soludo’s aide contradicts earlier actions and statements associated with the governor. IPOB maintained that its demand for Kanu’s release has remained consistent and is based on what it described as the pursuit of justice.

The group further argued that support for Kanu’s freedom extends beyond the South-East, claiming that Nigerians from different ethnic and religious backgrounds have also called for his release.

IPOB insisted that Kanu should be released without conditions and described his continued detention as unjust. The organisation said it would continue to campaign for his freedom despite differing opinions from political figures and government officials.

Kanu is currently serving a life sentence after a Federal High Court in Abuja convicted him in November 2025 on charges related to terrorism, incitement, membership of a banned organisation and activities linked to separatist agitation in the South-East.

Following the judgment, Kanu rejected the verdict and filed an appeal. His legal team has continued to challenge both the conviction and the sentence, arguing that the prosecution failed to prove its case.

The IPOB leader was first arrested in 2015 and later granted bail in 2017. He subsequently left Nigeria after a military operation at his family home in Abia State and was rearrested in Kenya in 2021 before being returned to Nigeria.

His case remains one of the most debated political and legal issues in the country, with supporters describing him as a political detainee while the Federal Government maintains that he must answer for offences connected to terrorism and violence.