The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Atiku Isa, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu may release detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu as part of a political strategy to win votes in the South-East ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku Isa made the claim during an interview on Naija Unfiltered, a Symfoni podcast where he discussed national politics, the state of opposition in Nigeria, and his recent visit to see Kanu in detention.
According to him, the Federal Government is aware that it may be difficult to gain electoral support in the South-East without addressing the issue surrounding the continued detention of the IPOB leader.
He argued that releasing Kanu closer to the 2027 elections could be used to appeal to voters in the region who have continued to demand the separatist leader’s freedom.
The NANS president also said he personally believes Kanu should not be in detention and insisted that many Nigerians see his case as politically motivated.
He explained that during his visit, Kanu appeared to be in good spirits and showed documents which he claimed support his legal position that he should not be retried on certain charges.
Atiku Isa further stated that many people in the South-East still hold strong loyalty to Kanu and believe his continued detention is unfair.
He warned that unless there is equal treatment for all Nigerians regardless of region, the country could continue to face tensions and divisions.
Kanu has remained in detention since he was brought back to Nigeria from Kenya in 2021. His case has continued to generate debate across the country, especially in the South-East where many groups and leaders have repeatedly called for his release.
