The Indigenous People of Biafra has warned it may boycott the 2027 general elections across the southeast if the Federal Government does not proceed with an appeal filed by its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
In a video released on Sunday, Chris Nwangu, IPOB’s Head of Directorate of State, accused the government of deliberately delaying the process by failing to file its response or schedule a hearing.
“A country that rushed to convict is now too frightened to defend the conviction,” Nwangu said. He referred to Kanu as “Onye Ndu” and gave authorities 14 days to hear the appeal.
“If they refuse, IPOB will review its petitions and consider boycotting the coming elections across Biafra land and beyond,” he added. “A government that will not face its own court of appeal has no right to demand our votes.”
Background
In November 2025, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment after convicting him on four counts of terrorism. He also received 20 years on one count and 5 years on another, out of a seven-count charge.
On February 4, IPOB lodged an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja. The group is asking the court to quash the conviction and sentences, and to discharge and acquit Kanu.
One of the grounds cited in the appeal is that the life sentence was handed down without allocutus, the opportunity for a defendant to address the court before sentencing.
Kanu is currently serving his sentence at a correctional facility in Sokoto.
