The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has described Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s rejection of Peter Obi’s call for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from custody as a “tragic betrayal” and a “painful display of hypocrisy.”

The group said the Anambra State governor’s position amounted to political desperation and an insult to the memory of Igbo leaders and others who have consistently demanded Kanu’s release.
In a statement on Monday signed by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB accused Soludo of being “treacherous and acting in bad faith” over his stance.
The group questioned what it described as a sudden change in Soludo’s position on the matter, recalling his earlier engagements with Kanu.

It noted that on May 13, 2022, Soludo visited Kanu at the Department of State Services (DSS) facility in Abuja, where he reportedly met with him and publicly called for his release, even offering to stand as surety for him.

IPOB also referenced comments attributed to Soludo’s Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, in March 2025, claiming the governor had been actively working towards Kanu’s release in the interest of peace in the South-East.

“Today, the same Soludo, through his government, describes Peter Obi’s identical call for justice as ‘a slap on the Nigerian judiciary’ and claims it undermines judicial processes. This is not statesmanship. This is political chameleon behaviour,” the statement read.

The group further accused Soludo of turning against the cause he previously supported for political gain, alleging inconsistency in his approach to Kanu’s detention.
IPOB also criticised the judiciary, describing Kanu’s continued detention as illegal and in violation of court orders.

The group insisted that the demand for Kanu’s release extends beyond the Igbo region, noting that many well-meaning Nigerians have continued to call for his freedom.

It, however, backed Peter Obi’s call for Kanu’s release, describing it as a “non-negotiable demand for justice, equity, and restoration of dignity to the Igbo nation and the conscience of Nigeria.”