The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has claimed that diplomatic missions representing members of the United Nations Security Council and several other countries have formally acknowledged receipt of letters notifying them of a leadership transition within the group's Directorate of State (DOS).
According to a report released by the group, the notifications were issued under the authority of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and communicated to at least 72 countries through official correspondence dated June 24, 2026.
The report states that the letters informed foreign governments of the dissolution of IPOB's Third Administration of the Directorate of State, previously led by Chika Edoziem, and the inauguration of a Fourth Administration headed by Chris Nwaogu, who is said to be based in the United States.
IPOB said the correspondence was signed by Kanu from the Sokoto Correctional Centre, where he is currently being held, and maintained that the leadership transition was carried out in accordance with the movement's Code of Conduct.
According to the group, the letters emphasized that the authority to appoint, suspend, remove or replace principal officers of IPOB rests solely with its Supreme Leader under the organization's governing code.
The correspondence also referenced the appointment of the previous Directorate of State administration in 2017 while Kanu was in detention at Kuje Correctional Centre, arguing that the current transition followed a similar constitutional process.
Diplomatic acknowledgments
IPOB attached what it described as documentary evidence showing acknowledgment of receipt by several diplomatic missions and foreign representatives.
Among the acknowledgments cited were:
The Canadian High Commission in Abuja, which reportedly recorded receipt on July 7, 2026.
The United States Embassy in Abuja, where documents addressed to the U.S. Secretary of State were said to have been acknowledged on July 2, 2026.
The United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with a "Received" stamp dated July 2, 2026.
The Australian High Commission, which also reportedly acknowledged receipt on July 2.
The Spanish Embassy in Abuja, bearing an entry stamp dated July 3.
The Embassy of Burkina Faso, which reportedly stamped the documents as received on July 2.
Indonesia's diplomatic mission, where receipt was reportedly acknowledged in handwriting on July 3.
The Chinese Embassy, which the group said acknowledged receiving the original copy on July 7.
Additional acknowledgment markings were also reported from the Kuwaiti mission and other diplomatic outposts.
According to IPOB, the receipts indicate that the notifications were formally received and logged by the respective diplomatic missions.
Reference to earlier appointments
The report also referred to an appointment memorandum dated February 24, 2023, signed by then Directorate of State head Chika Edoziem, which appointed Uda Keke Ugo as National Coordinator and Ikechukwu Odurukwe as Deputy National Coordinator for the IPOB Italy family. IPOB said the document provides historical context for the previous administration's organizational structure.
IPOB's position
The separatist group said the diplomatic notifications were intended to formally communicate what it described as a lawful and transparent transition of leadership carried out in accordance with its internal constitution.
It maintained that the newly constituted Fourth Administration of the Directorate of State has assumed responsibility for the movement's affairs and is exercising its functions under the authority of its Code of Conduct.
IPOB added that further diplomatic acknowledgment receipts are expected to emerge as additional missions process and confirm receipt of the correspondence.
The claims contained in the report have not been independently verified, and there has been no official public response from the diplomatic missions or governments named regarding the contents of the letters or the leadership transition announced by IPOB.
