IPOB THREATENS 2027 ELECTION BOYCOTT OVER DELAY IN KANU’S CASE

The Indigenous People of Biafra has given the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to ensure the immediate listing and hearing of its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu’s appeal, or face a possible boycott of the 2027 general elections across the South-East and other parts of “Biafraland.”

IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, issued the ultimatum in a statement on Tuesday, saying it followed renewed concerns from Kanu’s family over the delay in hearing his appeal against his conviction and life sentence.

Powerful said Kanu had written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the President of the Court of Appeal, requesting the immediate listing and hearing of his pending cases.

He accused the Federal Government of failing to defend the conviction after moving quickly to prosecute and secure Kanu’s conviction.

According to him, IPOB would consider mobilising for an election boycott if the appeal was not listed and heard within 14 days.

The group also questioned the legal basis for Kanu’s conviction and continued detention, asking the government to explain the specific offence under Nigerian law for which he was convicted.

IPOB further criticised the Supreme Court’s decision that overturned Kanu’s discharge and acquittal by the Court of Appeal. The group alleged that the apex court exceeded its constitutional powers by ruling on individual counts that had already been quashed by the Court of Appeal.

The organisation insisted that the Federal Government must defend both Kanu’s conviction and the jurisdictional basis for the resumed trial.

On the proposed election boycott, IPOB dismissed arguments that refusing to participate could encourage electoral malpractice.

The group argued that a collective decision not to participate would instead communicate dissatisfaction with a political system it believes has failed to deliver justice.

It said, “A collective refusal to participate sends its own message: a people have withdrawn their consent from a system they no longer trust.”