Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has pledged to release detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, saying there is no justification for keeping him in prison over statements made on Radio Biafra.
Addressing Nigerians in Washington on Saturday, the former Anambra State governor described Kanu’s continued detention as unjustified.
“There’s no reason for keeping Nnamdi Kanu. I will free Nnamdi Kanu as President, he has done nothing wrong,” Obi said.
“The government has no reason to arrest him because he was speaking and calling people names on radio, it doesn’t make sense,” he added.
Obi, who is currently in the United States, said he would engage all agitators through dialogue if elected.
“Anybody can tell you anything, I’m a politician and people call me all sorts of names and I don’t think calling me names is an offence,” he stated.
Kanu is currently serving a life imprisonment sentence at the Sokoto Correctional Centre. Obi emphasised that constructive engagement with separatist groups was essential to addressing underlying grievances.
The comments are likely to spark debate as Obi intensifies his campaign for the presidency under the NDC platform.
