Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has criticised the conviction of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, saying the judgement could worsen unrest in the South-east.
Kanu was sentenced on Thursday to life imprisonment after a Federal High Court in Abuja found him guilty on seven terrorism-related charges filed by the federal government.
In a statement posted on X on Saturday, Obi said the ruling came at a time Nigerians were struggling with rising insecurity, economic hardship and “the consequences of poor governance.” He warned that the outcome was more likely to fuel tension than reduce it.
Obi argued that Kanu’s arrest and prolonged detention reflected “a failure of leadership,” insisting that grievances raised by the IPOB leader required dialogue rather than force.
“The issues he highlighted were not impossible to resolve. They demanded empathy, wisdom and genuine engagement,” Obi said, adding that the government failed to exhaust political solutions before opting for prosecution.
He said political negotiations, reconciliatory measures and even amnesty could have been explored in the interest of peace and national stability. According to him, the government’s approach deepened mistrust at a time citizens were already overwhelmed by insecurity and economic strain.
Obi compared the handling of the case to “a man trapped in a hole who keeps digging,” saying the strategy worsened both the government’s position and the country’s fragile unity.
The former Anambra governor urged national leaders, including the Presidency, Council of State and elder statesmen, to embrace dialogue and work towards reconciliation. He appealed for a broader effort to find a lasting political solution to the tensions surrounding Kanu’s case.
Kanu’s legal team has said it will appeal the judgement. His former lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, confirmed on Friday that the separatist leader was moved from the SSS custody to a correctional facility in Sokoto State. Efforts to reach the SSS spokesperson, Favour Dozie, were unsuccessful.
