RismadarVoice Reporters, June 15, 2026
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has criticised Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, accusing him of taking inconsistent positions on the continued detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement issued on Monday by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the separatist group expressed concern over what it described as a contradiction between the governor’s past support for Kanu’s release and recent comments attributed to his administration.
IPOB recalled that Soludo had previously advocated for Kanu’s freedom and reportedly visited him at the Department of State Services (DSS) facility in Abuja in January 2023, where he allegedly offered to stand surety for the detained IPOB leader.
The group also cited remarks previously credited to Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, suggesting that the state government had, at different times, pursued initiatives aimed at securing Kanu’s release as part of broader peace efforts in the South-East.
According to IPOB, it is therefore surprising that the same administration is now reportedly critical of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for making similar appeals for Kanu’s release.
The organisation questioned what it described as a change in the governor’s position, hinting that political considerations may be influencing the current stance.
IPOB further argued that calls for Kanu’s release are not limited to its members or supporters, noting that several respected Nigerian leaders and elder statesmen had previously advocated dialogue and a political solution to the matter.
The group cited the late First Republic Minister of Aviation, Mbazulike Amaechi, and former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, George Obiozor, among notable figures who publicly supported efforts to resolve the issue through engagement rather than prolonged detention.
Reaffirming its commitment to peaceful advocacy, IPOB urged the Federal Government to consider the unconditional release of Kanu, insisting that his continued incarceration remains a major concern for many people in the South-East and beyond.
