The National Chairman of the Zenith Labour Party, Dan Iwuanyanwu, has alleged that some powerful politicians and businessmen from the South-East are covertly working against the release of detained Indigenous People of Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Speaking on Channels Television on Monday, Iwuanyanwu claimed these individuals are concerned that Kanu’s release could jeopardise their political careers and diminish their influence in the region.
“There are some top businessmen who are involved in businesses in Abuja, oil and all that,” Iwuanyanwu said during the programme.
“There are some top politicians who are of the view – and which is correct – that if Nnamdi Kanu comes today, there are people whose political career will come to an end permanently without him saying a word. Nnamdi Kanu has been loved by the people,” he added.
The ZLP chairman noted that Kanu’s popularity remains “organic” and widely supported, adding that his continued detention is no longer merely a national security matter but is also rooted in internal political fears among the South-East elite.
Iwuanyanwu’s comments come as calls intensify for the Federal Government to honour court rulings ordering Kanu’s release. Kanu, who has been held in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2021, has remained a focal point of legal and political debate.
Also on Monday, human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, joined demonstrators in Abuja calling for Kanu’s immediate release.
Sowore warned that continued detention of the IPOB leader could escalate tensions across the country.
“Today will be different and nobody can stop this spirit and this is to ensure that we bring our brother home,” Sowore said while addressing the protesters.
He recounted how police and security agents had used teargas to disperse demonstrators at several locations including Utako and Apo, but added that protestors regrouped and pressed on with their march.
“They teargassed us, we relocated to Utako, they teargassed us, we relocated to Apo, Apo has the biggest so far and that is to show to you that very soon, this will get out of hand if they don’t do something about releasing Nnamdi Kanu,” he stated.
Sowore maintained that the protests were peaceful and focused on justice, not confrontation.
“We are not threatening violence, we are just saying that in this country we all deserve a right to be citizens,” he added.
Demonstrations in the Federal Capital Territory have intensified in recent days, with multiple advocacy groups demanding compliance with court orders and respect for fundamental rights.
Kanu was first arrested in 2015 and granted bail in 2017, but was re-arrested in 2021 after fleeing the country. Despite several judicial pronouncements ordering his release, the DSS has continued to detain him — a stance that has drawn growing domestic and international scrutiny.
