If Nnamdi Kanu Is Not Freed, It Will Ruin Your 2027 Chances,’ IPOB Leader’s Lawyer Warns Tinubu, South-East Politicians
‘If Nnamdi Kanu Is Not Freed, It Will Ruin Your 2027 Chances,’ IPOB Leader’s Lawyer Warns Tinubu, South-East Politicians
Ejimakor made the statement on Wednesday in a post on X (formerly Twitter), arguing that the continued incarceration of the IPOB leader could have far-reaching political consequences across the South-East and beyond.
Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to the imprisoned leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has warned that the political ambitions of South-East politicians seeking elective positions in the 2027 general elections could be jeopardised if Kanu remains in detention.
Ejimakor made the statement on Wednesday in a post on X (formerly Twitter), arguing that the continued incarceration of the IPOB leader could have far-reaching political consequences across the South-East and beyond.
“Southeast politicians, aspiring to contest the 2027 elections should bear this in mind: If Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not freed in the near term, it will ruin your chances in the 2027 elections,” Ejimakor wrote.
He added, “Don’t ask me how. The same fate awaits President Tinubu, because SE will remember.”
Southeast politicians, aspiring to contest the 2027 elections should bear this in mind: If MAZI NNAMDI KANU is not freed in the near term, it will ruin your chances in the 2027 elections. Don’t ask me how.
The same fate awaits President Tinubu, because SE will remember.
— aloy ejimakor (@AloyEjimakor) April 22, 2026
Ejimakor’s comments appeared to directly link Kanu’s freedom to the 2027 electoral outcomes, particularly in the South-East, raising concerns about political tensions in a region already grappling with insecurity and agitation.
Ejimakor’s remarks highlight the deepening political and emotional tensions surrounding Kanu’s continued imprisonment, particularly in the South-East, where the IPOB leader retains significant support among sections of the population.
While some political actors in the region have remained cautious about openly aligning with IPOB’s demands, the lawyer’s comments reflect growing pressure on elected officials and aspirants to take a clearer position on Kanu’s release.
Kanu, the leader of IPOB, was held in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) from June 2021 following his controversial re-arrest in Kenya and subsequent rendition to Nigeria, until November 2025, when Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, sentenced him to life imprisonment on seven counts of terrorism-related charges.
Despite his conviction, agitation for his release has persisted, with supporters describing him as a political prisoner and intensifying calls for his freedom amid allegations of rights violations and claims that earlier court rulings had discharged and acquitted him in 2023.
In recent years, the South-East has experienced episodes of unrest, including attacks on security formations and the enforcement of “sit-at-home” directives by non-state actors, which have disrupted economic and social activities in parts of the region.
Although IPOB has repeatedly denied involvement in some of the violence, Nigerian authorities have attributed several incidents of insecurity in the region to the group.
