IPOB Slams Soludo Over Remarks on Obi’s Call for Nnamdi Kanu’s Release

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has condemned in strong terms the Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo over his criticism of the Labour Party chieftain, Peter Obi on his recent call for the release of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

In a press statement issued on Monday, June 15, 2026, the IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, accused Soludo of “betrayal” and “political chameleonic behaviour,” saying the governor had previously called for Kanu’s release and has now changed his stance.
IPOB referenced two previous incidents to support its assertion:

“Soludo visited Kanu in DSS facility in Abuja on May 13, 2022 and publicly appealed for his release, even offering to stand surety.

“In March 2025, Law Mefor, Soludo’s Commissioner for Information, said the governor was “working diligently for Kanu’s release” to restore peace in the South-East.”
This was compared by the group to Soludo’s recent reaction to Peter Obi’s call for the “immediate and unconditional release” of Kanu which the Anambra government described as “a slap on the Nigerian judiciary.” IPOB described the stance as “the height of treachery” and associated it with Soludo’s purported aspiration to become vice president in 2031.

“What happened all of a sudden Governor Soludo? Your blind and shameless ambition is what changed. “You have now opted to sacrifice Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on the altar of caliphate appeasement,” the statement said.

IPOB described Kanu’s detention as “illegal” and in “violation of court orders”, and said Soludo’s position was a “insult” to late Igbo leaders, including Mbazulike Amaechi, former Ohanaeze Ndigbo President George Obiozor and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who had advocated for Kanu’s release.

The group also said the demand for Kanu’s release “is not an Igbo affair alone” and pointed to support from Yoruba cleric Prophet Ayodele and “well-meaning Nigerians” in other regions.

However, IPOB sent a warning to Soludo, “The Igbo nation has a long memory, your northern masters will never trust a proven betrayer of his own people.

Nnamdi Kanu has been in DSS custody since June 2021 with charges of terrorism and treason filed against him, which he has denied. The same case has been appealed in several courts and is still pending before the judiciary.