Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has said that the continued detention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, can only be resolved through political dialogue.
He made this known during a state-wide broadcast on Tuesday, following his official defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Mbah stated that his view on Kanu’s case has remained the same since he took office, adding that his first meeting with President Bola Tinubu after assuming office in 2023 focused on seeking a political settlement for Kanu’s release.
According to the governor, the political path remains the best way to resolve Kanu’s prolonged detention and foster peace in the South-East region. He urged South-East leaders and stakeholders to unite and present a common position to the federal government to push for Kanu’s freedom through dialogue rather than confrontation.
Mbah noted that adopting a political approach would require cooperation and planning among regional leaders to determine the best steps forward. He added that the region must first agree that dialogue is the most viable route before discussing how to implement it.
Nnamdi Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021, after being rearrested in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria.
Despite several court rulings ordering his release, the IPOB leader remains detained on terrorism-related charges.In August, Governor Mbah had also called for Kanu’s release during the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Enugu, describing his continued detention as unjust.
He said at the time that his first visit to President Tinubu was to discuss Kanu’s case and express his belief that setting him free was the right step toward reconciliation.
Mbah’s renewed call for a political solution comes amid growing nationwide advocacy for Kanu’s release. Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore recently announced a peaceful protest scheduled for October 20, 2025, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, demanding Kanu’s unconditional release.
Sowore urged political leaders from the South-East, including Governors Charles Soludo and Alex Otti, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, to join the march and show genuine support beyond public statements.
The campaign for Kanu’s release has continued to gather momentum, with backing from political figures, lawmakers, and civil society groups who argue that resolving the issue politically would help restore calm and unity in the South-East.
The federal government has yet to issue any statement on Mbah’s latest remarks or the planned protest for Kanu’s release.