Ohanaeze Ndigbo has renewed its call on President Bola Tinubu to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, describing his release as an important step towards national healing and reconciliation.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation has repeatedly appealed to the Federal Government over Kanu’s continued incarceration, with its President-General, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, previously describing his release as a key demand of Ndigbo.
The latest position comes amid continued calls from groups and political stakeholders for a political solution to the issues surrounding Kanu’s case and broader tensions in the South-East.
Kanu was convicted in 2025 on treason-related charges and is currently serving a life sentence at a correctional facility in Sokoto. He has also appealed the conviction.
Ohanaeze has maintained that dialogue and reconciliation remain important to sustaining peace in the South-East. In June, the organisation said dialogue was the most viable and sustainable approach to resolving internal disagreements and reaffirmed its support for efforts aimed at securing the release and reintegration of detained pro-Biafra individuals, including Kanu.
The organisation’s renewed appeal adds to a series of calls for Kanu’s release. In July 2026, a coalition of Igbo religious leaders also sought his unconditional release and called for broader political restructuring, while 44 members of the House of Representatives had earlier urged the Federal Government to pursue a political solution to the case.
Ohanaeze’s position is that addressing the Kanu issue through dialogue could contribute to rebuilding confidence and promoting reconciliation, while the legal process surrounding his conviction remains ongoing.
