The Lead Counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, has warned that President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) risk losing the political support of the entire South-East if the Federal Government fails to release Nnamdi Kanu. Speaking in an interview monitored by Symfoni TV, Ejimakor said the continued detention of Kanu has become a major emotional and political issue that touches the core identity and sense of belonging of the Igbo people, adding that the matter is now well beyond the boundaries of legal interpretation.
He argued that Kanu’s detention represents a deeper sense of alienation felt in the South-East, and that the region will not respond positively to political engagements or campaign appeals while Kanu remains in custody. According to him, “The Nnamdi Kanu matter is not just a court case anymore. It has become political. It is emotional. It touches the soul of the Igbo people. Any politician seeking support in the South-East must understand this before anything else.”
Ejimakor recalled that several court rulings, including the Court of Appeal judgment that discharged and acquitted Kanu, had ordered his release, yet the Federal Government has refused to obey them. He described this as a constitutional violation and an assault on the authority of the judiciary. He insisted that the continued detention of Kanu despite legal clarity shows discrimination, arguing that no other region in Nigeria has experienced a similar situation. “If Nnamdi Kanu were from another region, this matter would have been resolved long ago. The delay is because he is Igbo, and our people know this,” he said.
Ejimakor reiterated that calling for self-determination is not a crime under Nigerian or international law. He noted that several global charters, including those Nigeria is a signatory to, recognize the right of indigenous or cultural groups to advocate for political autonomy. He said Kanu’s agitation was rooted in historical grievances and decades of unaddressed political and economic marginalization, which cannot be resolved through force or continued detention.
Political Implications Ahead of 2027
Ejimakor warned that the issue will directly affect the 2027 elections, saying political parties that attempt to campaign in the region while ignoring Kanu’s detention will “meet a brick wall.” According to him, the emotional significance of Kanu’s case means no political messaging can override it. “No politician should come to the South-East asking for votes while Kanu is still detained. The people will not listen,” he stated. He emphasized that the matter now symbolizes the region’s search for justice, dignity, and recognition in the Nigerian federation.
Ejimakor also recounted his recent arrest, which he described as an attempt at intimidation. He said his treatment while in custody reaffirmed his concern that security agencies apply disproportionate force when dealing with Igbo activists and advocates. “The first thing they try to do is intimidate you — to make you feel powerless — but we are not afraid,” he said.
He urged the Tinubu administration to embrace dialogue rather than coercion, stressing that the use of force has historically failed to resolve agitation in the region. He argued that a political solution, not prolonged prosecution, will promote national unity and restore confidence between the South-East and the rest of the country. “There has to be dialogue. There has to be reconciliation. There has to be justice. Nigeria has used force for too long, and it has not worked,” he said.
Nnamdi Kanu has been in detention since June 2021, when he was intercepted abroad and returned to Nigeria. Despite multiple court rulings ordering his release, the Federal Government has continued to hold him, claiming national security concerns. Ejimakor maintains that the legal basis for his detention no longer exists and that the government is now acting outside the law. He concluded that resolving the matter will not only ease tensions but also restore political stability and trust.
