The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has reiterated his opposition to the continued incarceration of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, insisting there is no justification for keeping him behind bars.
Speaking during an engagement with members of the Nigerian diaspora in Washington, D.C., the former Anambra State governor said he has consistently maintained that Kanu’s detention is unnecessary and that dialogue remains the best path to resolving grievances.
“I have said this repeatedly, there is no reason for keeping Nnamdi Kanu. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no reason whatsoever,” Obi said.
According to him, individuals should not be imprisoned merely for expressing controversial opinions or criticizing public figures.
“You cannot arrest somebody because he was speaking on radio and calling people names. It doesn’t make sense. Anybody can tell you anything. I’m a politician. People call me all sorts of names. I don’t think calling me names is an offence. It is not an offence,” he stated.
Obi further stressed that engagement, rather than confrontation, is the key to addressing agitation and unrest across the country.
“If I’m in government today, I will discuss with all agitators. I will engage with them. I will consult with them because I believe that they have a reason for whatever they want to do. It’s only by engaging them that we’ll learn and see how we can solve it,” he added.
Kanu, the leader of IPOB, is currently serving a life sentence following his conviction on terrorism-related charges by a Federal High Court in Abuja in November 2025. The court found him guilty on multiple counts, including incitement, membership of a proscribed organisation, and alleged involvement in attacks linked to separatist activities in Nigeria’s South-East region.
Obi’s remarks are likely to reignite debate over Kanu’s detention and the broader question of how the government should address separatist agitations and security concerns in the country.
