The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has given the Federal Government 14 days to ensure that the appeal filed by its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is listed and heard, threatening to boycott forthcoming elections across Biafraland and beyond if its demand is not met.
The group issued the ultimatum in a statement on Tuesday, September 1, by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, expressing concern over what it described as the slow pace of proceedings following Kanu’s conviction.
IPOB alleged that while the Federal Government moved swiftly to prosecute and convict its leader, it had shown little urgency in responding to the appeal against the conviction. The group also questioned the legal basis for Kanu’s conviction and continued detention, asking under which extant law he was convicted and what specific offence justified his continued detention.
According to IPOB, a separate legal challenge is also pending before the Supreme Court over the legality of the continuation of Kanu’s trial after some of the charges against him had earlier been quashed. The group said the Federal Government must therefore defend both Kanu’s conviction and the jurisdictional basis on which his resumed trial was conducted.
IPOB warned that failure to have the appeal listed and heard within 14 days would result in what it described as a total boycott of forthcoming elections across Biafraland and beyond. The organisation also defended the proposed boycott against arguments that such a move could benefit President Bola Tinubu’s administration. ReadPolitical News
IPOB said it did not call for an election boycott in 2023, noting that its supporters participated in that election. It argued, however, that despite the participation, the results were disputed and subsequent legal challenges were unsuccessful. The group said repeated participation in elections followed by allegations of rigging and unsuccessful court challenges had raised questions about the effectiveness of the electoral process.
It described a collective refusal to participate in elections as a political statement by people who had lost confidence in the system. IPOB urged those opposed to the proposed boycott to instead direct their efforts towards ensuring that Kanu’s appeal is heard.
The group said the Federal Government had two options: release Kanu or appear in court to defend his conviction and the legal basis of his trial. IPOB reiterated its demand for Kanu’s immediate and unconditional release, warning that failure to act within the 14-day deadline would trigger a total election boycott across Biafraland and beyond.