The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has threatened a total boycott of upcoming elections across Biafraland and other areas if the appeal of its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is not listed and heard.
The warning was contained in a weekly address issued on Sunday, September 6, 2026, by Mazi Chris Nwaọgụ, described as the Head of the Fourth Administration of IPOB’s Directorate of State (DOS).
Nwaọgụ said the planned boycott was “not a threat” but a promise, urging the Federal Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to address the issue by ensuring that Kanu’s appeal is brought before the Court of Appeal.
“Anybody who wants this boycott called off should stop talking to IPOB and talk to the APC government. Tell them to list Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's appeal and hear it,” he said.
He added that IPOB would maintain its position if the appeal was not heard.
“If they refuse to list and hear the appeal, there will be a total boycott of the coming elections across Biafraland and beyond,” he said.
IPOB Cites Constitutional Provision
The IPOB official also challenged Kanu’s conviction, citing Section 36(12) of the Nigerian Constitution, which provides that a person cannot be convicted of a criminal offence unless the offence is defined and its penalty prescribed in a written law.
Nwaọgụ argued that Kanu’s conviction could not stand without a valid written law establishing the offences for which he was convicted.
He also criticised the judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho, alleging that the court failed to properly address arguments surrounding the repeal of the terrorism legislation under which Kanu was prosecuted.
According to him, Kanu had argued that the 2013 Terrorism Act had been repealed, but the court allegedly declined to properly consider the issue.
Nwaọgụ claimed that when the court stated that the matter had previously been determined during the no-case submission stage, Kanu produced the earlier ruling, which he said did not contain such a determination.
He further alleged that the court instead stated, “We need to move on.”
IPOB Challenges Use of Repealed Terrorism Law
The statement also questioned the application of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 to Kanu’s case.
Nwaọgụ argued that the 2022 legislation replaced the previous terrorism law and required pending cases to continue under corresponding provisions of the new law.
He alleged that Kanu’s trial remained under the repealed legislation and argued that the continued use of the old law undermined the conviction.
According to him, a savings provision could not revive a repealed law or override constitutional protections.
IPOB therefore called for Kanu’s immediate and unconditional release and maintained that the Federal Government should allow the Court of Appeal to determine the legal issues surrounding his conviction.
Nwaọgụ concluded by reiterating that the proposed election boycott would remain in place unless Kanu’s appeal was listed and heard.
The claims and legal arguments contained in the statement represent IPOB’s position. They have not been independently established in the statement as findings of the Court of Appeal.
