Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has thrown his full weight behind Omoyele Sowore’s campaign demanding the immediate release of the detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, describing his prolonged detention as “a stain on Nigeria’s belief in the rule of law.”
Atiku made this known in a post shared on his official X handle on Thursday, where he condemned the Federal Government’s refusal to obey court orders granting Kanu bail.
“The continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu remains an open sore on our nation’s conscience and a stain on our belief in the rule of law. Defying court orders that granted him bail is an abuse of power and an assault on justice,” Atiku wrote.
“I, therefore, lend my voice in full support of the campaign led by @YeleSowore for his immediate release or due prosecution. We fail as patriots if we allow Kanu’s case to fester as yet another wound this nation refuses to heal.”
Atiku’s statement comes barely 24 hours after Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), launched a national movement calling for Kanu’s freedom and urging South-East governors, lawmakers, and traditional rulers to join in the protest.
Sowore had earlier revealed that he reached out to several top political figures, including Anambra Governor Charles Soludo, Abia Governor Alex Otti, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, to rally support for the campaign.
“I have tried reaching out personally to Dr. @alexottiofr, Prof. @CCSoludo, and Mr. @PeterObi through his team today. Alex Otti and Soludo neither took my calls nor responded to my messages,” Sowore disclosed.
“I also reached out to Alhaji @Atiku through his team, while Senator @SenatorAbaribe said he would return my call. This is not the time for hesitation. If we genuinely believe Mazi Nnamdi Kanu deserves freedom, then every leader of conscience must act now, not later.”
Kanu has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his controversial re-arrest and extradition from Kenya in 2021. Despite multiple court rulings — including the October 2022 Court of Appeal judgment that discharged and acquitted him — the Federal Government has yet to comply.
The IPOB leader still faces charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, and incitement before the Federal High Court in Abuja — all of which he has consistently denied.
