The Indigenous People of Biafra has called on its members and supporters to withdraw support for the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections, citing delays in the hearing of an appeal challenging the conviction of its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The separatist organisation announced the directive through the Fourth Administration of its Directorate of State, instructing supporters to disengage from activities associated with the ruling party, particularly in the South-East.
The group said the move was intended to prevent actions that could strengthen the APC’s political standing in the region.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Head of IPOB’s Directorate of State, Mazi Chris Nwaogu, described the decision as a response to what the organisation considers persistent injustice against Kanu and the broader Biafran population.
IPOB had earlier threatened to boycott the 2027 general elections throughout the South-East if the appeal against Kanu’s conviction was not scheduled for hearing. However, Nwaogu indicated that the group would begin implementing its political disengagement strategy by focusing on the APC, while reiterating that IPOB does not align itself with any political party.
Explaining the organisation’s position, Nwaogu said, “IPOB remains strictly non-partisan. However, we see through the geopolitical games being played. Those advising President Tinubu and the British government to withhold the listing of Onyendu’s appeal in order to force a vote-depleting election boycott in the South-East and South-South have miscalculated.”
He maintained that the proposed boycott should not be interpreted as an attempt to benefit another political organisation, insisting that the decision was driven by the group’s grievances over Kanu’s legal predicament. “Our boycott is not a gift to any Nigerian political actor; it is an unyielding response to systemic injustice and state-sponsored illegality.”
According to the IPOB official, the directive takes effect immediately and requires members to avoid APC political gatherings, discontinue the display of the party’s flags and refrain from defending governors elected on its platform. The group intends to begin its withdrawal from the ruling party while retaining its broader position on the 2027 elections.
“While our decision regarding a total boycott of the 2027 general elections stands, we begin our phased political disengagement today by targeting the party responsible for our oppression,” Nwaogu said.
He further instructed supporters to sever their association with the APC, accusing the party of responsibility for security operations and legal actions that IPOB considers harmful to its members and supporters. “Effective immediately, Biafrans are directed to boycott everything connected to the APC—the party that brought Operation Python Dance, extrajudicial killings, illegal detentions, and kangaroo convictions to our land.”
Nwaogu also accused the APC-led Federal Government of implementing policies and conducting security operations that he claimed had aggravated the difficulties faced by the Igbo population and those advocating for Biafran independence. He argued that the government’s approach to IPOB-related cases reflected a broader failure to ensure fairness and uphold the rule of law.
The IPOB representative further warned against political support for the APC within the Igbo community, maintaining that individuals who campaign for the party or publicly identify with it would be acting contrary to the organisation’s interests. His remarks also underscored IPOB’s opposition to political alliances between South-East leaders and the ruling party as preparations for the next general elections gradually approach.
Despite the directive, its actual influence on voting patterns across the South-East remains uncertain. IPOB’s announcement represents the organisation’s declared political position, while individual voters retain their constitutional right to participate in elections and independently decide which candidates or parties to support.
Beyond its call for an APC boycott, the organisation reiterated that securing Kanu’s release remains its overriding priority. It demanded that the Federal Government release its leader immediately and without conditions, describing his case as central to its broader objectives.
“The primary focus of this Directorate remains absolute and unshakeable: the immediate, unconditional release of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the full restoration of Biafra. Every other matter is secondary,” Nwaogu said.
The renewed demand comes amid continuing legal disputes over Kanu’s detention, prosecution and conviction on terrorism-related charges. IPOB has consistently criticised the government’s handling of the case, arguing that the proceedings against its leader have not met the standards of fairness and justice.
Nwaogu alleged that the Federal Government had interfered with the judicial process in ways that have prolonged Kanu’s detention. To support his position, he highlighted two separate legal developments that he claimed raised questions about the administration of justice and the progress of proceedings involving the IPOB leader.
According to Nwaogu, a fundamental rights case concerning Kanu’s alleged detention without trial for 14 months was brought before the Federal Capital Territory High Court approximately two weeks before the statement was issued. He claimed that the presiding judge informed the parties that the court file could not be located.
The IPOB official argued that the reported disappearance of the file had stalled the proceedings, questioning how a case involving allegations of unlawful detention could become inaccessible within the judicial system. His comments formed part of the group’s wider criticism of the handling of legal matters involving Kanu.
Nwaogu also drew attention to a separate appeal filed by Kanu’s legal team to challenge his conviction by Justice Omotosho on November 20, 2025. He alleged that despite the compilation and transmission of the appeal record, the Court of Appeal had not yet fixed a date for the hearing.
He further claimed that the Federal Government had failed to submit a respondent’s brief in defence of the conviction, which he alleged was founded on a law that had already been repealed. The allegations were presented by IPOB as further grounds for questioning the continued delay in the appellate process.
Describing the reported developments as deliberate interference with the administration of justice, Nwaogu called on the relevant judicial authorities to ensure that the appeal was scheduled and heard. He argued that the concerns raised by the organisation required urgent attention and a transparent legal process.
“A government that hides court files and fears its own Court of Appeal has lost all legal and moral legitimacy,” he said.
He added, “Show us the law, list the appeal, and hear it in open court.”
