Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has given the Federal Government 14 days to ensure that its leader, Nnamdi Kanu’s appeal is listed and heard, threatening to boycott the 2027 general elections across Biafraland if the demand is not met.
IPOB spokesman Emma Powerful issued the ultimatum in a statement on Tuesday, accusing the Federal Government of failing to show the same urgency in defending Mr Kanu’s conviction as it did in prosecuting him.
The group said the government had not filed a respondent’s brief or appeared before the Court of Appeal to defend the conviction.
“The Federal Government has not filed a respondent’s brief; it has not listed the appeal, and it has not come to court. A country that rushed to convict is now too frightened to defend the conviction,” the statement said.
IPOB also questioned the legal basis for Kanu’s conviction and continued detention.
“Nigeria must answer two simple questions: Under which extant written law was Mazi Nnamdi Kanu convicted on November 20, 2025? What specific crime, cognisable under Nigerian law, justifies his continued detention after nearly six years?” the group asked.
Kanu is challenging his conviction and life sentence before the Court of Appeal.
His family recently said he had written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the President of the Court of Appeal, seeking the immediate listing and hearing of his pending appeal.Nigerian current events
IPOB also challenged the Supreme Court’s decision which overturned Kanu’s discharge and acquittal by the Court of Appeal in October 2022.
The group alleged that the Supreme Court exceeded its constitutional powers by pronouncing on individual counts that had earlier been quashed by the Court of Appeal.
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It said the Federal Government must defend both Kanu’s conviction and the legal basis for the resumed trial.
IPOB said failure to list and hear the appeal within 14 days would lead to a total boycott of forthcoming elections across Biafraland and beyond.
The group also defended the proposed boycott against arguments that non-participation could benefit President Bola Tinubu’s administration.Executive Branch
It said its supporters participated in the 2023 general election but that the results were disputed and subsequent legal challenges were unsuccessful.
IPOB argued that repeated participation in elections followed by allegations of rigging and unsuccessful court challenges had raised questions about the effectiveness of the electoral process.
The group said a collective refusal to participate would be a political statement by people who had lost confidence in the electoral system.
IPOB said the Federal Government had two options: release Kanu or appear in court to defend his conviction and the legal basis of his trial.
The group urged those opposed to an election boycott to instead direct their efforts towards ensuring that Nnamdi Kanu’s appeal is listed and heard.
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