Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has declared support for activist Omoyele Sowore’s campaign demanding the release of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, describing his continued detention as needless.
Obi made the remark on Wednesday, October 15, while visiting LEA Primary School in Kapwa, Abuja, alongside Dr Moses Paul, the African Democratic Congress chairmanship candidate for Abuja Municipal Area Council.
Speaking to journalists, the former Anambra governor reiterated that open dialogue and negotiation remain the most effective means to address agitations across the country.
“I’ve always been consistent on Nnamdi Kanu’s situation. There was no need for his arrest in the first place,” Obi said.
“And I’ve always said that for me, I will consult, negotiate, and discuss with anybody who is agitating. I said it clearly and I remain there,” he added.
He commended Sowore and other activists for pushing for Kanu’s freedom, urging authorities to uphold due process and rule of law.
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“I thank those who are actually trying to do or say what we’ve been saying for a long time. Go and check what I’ve said before 2020, 2022, and even 2024.
“Now that it has gone to court, the rules should be followed—not just for Nnamdi Kanu, but for all agitators across the nation,” Obi said.
“There’s nothing wrong with anybody agitating or saying let’s have a dialogue with them. And whatever we do with them, let’s follow the rules. So, I thank the organisers and those who are involved.”
Sowore, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the African Action Congress, has announced plans for a peaceful rally tagged #FreeNnamdiKanuNow on October 20 in Abuja.
Kanu has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services since his controversial 2021 arrest and extradition from Kenya, despite a 2022 Court of Appeal judgment that discharged and acquitted him.
His continued detention has drawn criticism from political figures and rights groups demanding dialogue and adherence to judicial rulings.