LAGOS — Former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has alleged that the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu is tied to his refusal to accept conditions reportedly offered by the Nigerian government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking on March 16, 2026, Sowore contrasted Kanu’s situation with that of Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday Igboho, claiming Igboho accepted similar terms and avoided prolonged detention.
“Nnamdi Kanu is in jail today because he’s different from Sunday Igboho. If Kanu were like Sunday Igboho, he would be campaigning for President Tinubu in the Southeast now. Because it’s the same terms they gave to Igboho that he accepted and Kanu rejected over the last 10 years,” Sowore said.
Sowore also recounted his recent visit to Aba, noting the stark contrast in approach between Kanu and Igboho. He criticized Igboho’s political engagement, labeling it as transactional and politically motivated. “I don’t know what he will do tomorrow, but the Kanu I went to campaign for in Aba last week — it will be heresy to compare the two of them,” he added.
He warned that Igboho’s choices could harm his legacy, comparing him to historical figures who became infamous for their actions. “But what Igboho is going to realize is that he’s going to be in the hall of infamy like the Nzeribes of this world… If he was ever relevant, Igboho just retired himself into the infamy of the people I mentioned, and his own might be worse because the world community might be coming for him very soon,” Sowore said.
Kanu has remained in detention since his re-arrest in 2021, facing charges including terrorism and treasonable felony, which continue to generate public debate, particularly in the Southeast. Igboho, in contrast, has recently aligned with the ruling All Progressives Congress and expressed support for President Tinubu.
Neither the Presidency, Kanu’s legal team, nor Igboho have issued any response to the latest claims.
