A fierce political battle has erupted between the camps of Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, over the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The rift widened following a strong statement from the Anambra State Government, which heavily criticized Obi’s recent demand for Kanu’s unconditional release, describing it as “careless, baseless, and self-serving.” Speaking during a recent interactive session with Nigerians in Washington, D.C., United States, Peter Obi reiterated his long-standing position that there was no justification for the continued incarceration of the IPOB leader, hinting at a political solution if given the mandate.
However, Governor Soludo, speaking through his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Ejimofor Opara, took strong exception to Obi’s remarks, framing them as an attempt to undermine the rule of law. ”Peter Obi’s careless and self-serving comments on the trial, conviction, and sentencing of Nnamdi Kanu are a major slap on not just the Nigerian judiciary, but more of an insult against the judiciary of Finland,” Opara stated.
The government further argued that Obi, who is historically a major beneficiary of landmark judicial interventions in his own political career, should be the last person to disrespect court processes.
Soludo’s camp emphasized that the judicial system had exercised total transparency in handling the case, even permitting a live broadcast of the final proceedings to prevent misleading public narratives. The Governor’s stance has triggered a fiery backlash from IPOB.
In a swiftly issued statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group blasted Governor Soludo, labeling his new position a “tragic betrayal” and “political chameleon behavior.” IPOB pointed out a glaring U-turn in Soludo’s posture, reminding the public that the governor had previously visited Kanu at the Department of State Services (DSS) facility in Abuja, where he publicly called for his release and even offered to stand as his surety.
“You visited Kanu in detention when you needed Igbo votes and his moral endorsement to become governor. Today, you defend oppression against your own brother for personal gain,” the group claimed.
The unfolding drama marks a significant shift in South-East political dynamics, drawing lines between those advocating for immediate political interventions to secure regional peace and those insisting on strict adherence to judicial processes. As the debate rages on, the clash over Kanu’s fate is expected to heavily shape the political discourse ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.
