By Muhammad Mamman
A senior leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-cultural organisation of Nigeria’s Igbo people, has called on President Bola Tinubu to grant a pardon to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The appeal, framed as a move in the broader national interest, was made amid ongoing debates over security, political inclusion and reconciliation in Nigeria’s south-east region.
According to the Ohanaeze leader, pardoning Kanu could help ease long-standing tensions in the region, foster dialogue and promote national unity at a time when the country faces deep political and economic challenges.
“Granting Kanu a pardon will be in the interest of peace, stability and national cohesion,” the leader said, urging the president to consider a political solution rather than a purely legal approach.
Kanu, who has been in detention since 2021 following his re-arrest and extradition to Nigeria, is facing terrorism-related charges brought by the federal government. His detention has remained a sensitive and polarising issue, particularly in the south-east, where calls for his release have persisted.
President Tinubu has not publicly responded to the latest appeal. However, his administration has previously indicated openness to dialogue and non-military approaches to addressing unrest in different parts of the country.
Analysts say the call by Ohanaeze underscores the growing political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections, as regional leaders push for gestures they believe could calm tensions and reshape political alliances.
The federal government maintains that all issues relating to Kanu remain before the courts, while security agencies continue to link IPOB activities to violence in the south-east — claims the group has repeatedly denied.
