‘There’s No Reason to Keep Nnamdi Kanu in Detention’ — Peter Obi Reveals How He Would Handle Agitators

• Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has again called for the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, insisting that there is no justification for his continued detention and stressing that dialogue remains the best way to address agitation in Nigeria.

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has reiterated his call for the release of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, stating that there is no reason for his continued detention.

Obi made the remarks during an interaction with Nigerians in Washington, D.C., United States, in a video that has since gained attention on social media.

According to the Obidient Movement, the engagement took place a few days ago during Obi’s visit to the United States.

Speaking on Kanu’s case, the former Anambra State governor maintained that he has consistently opposed the continued detention of the IPOB leader.

“I said it repeatedly that there’s no reason for keeping Nnamdi Kanu. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no reason, no reason whatsoever.

“You cannot arrest somebody because he was speaking on the radio or calling people’s names. It doesn’t make sense,” Obi said.

Drawing from his experience as a politician, Obi argued that public figures are often subjected to criticism and insults, which should not be treated as criminal offences.

“I’m a politician. People call me all sorts of names. And I don’t think calling me names has anything to do with… It’s not an offence,” he added.

The former governor also stated that if given the opportunity to lead the country, he would adopt dialogue and engagement as key tools for addressing agitation and unrest across different regions.

According to him, meaningful discussions with agitators would help government understand their grievances and find lasting solutions.

“Even all agitators, if I’m in government today, I will discuss with them. I will engage with them.

“I will consult with them. Because I believe that they have a reason for whatever they want to do. It’s only by engaging them that we’ll learn and see how we can solve it,” Obi stated.

The comments have reignited discussions surrounding Kanu’s continued imprisonment and the broader debate over how the Nigerian government should handle separatist agitations.

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Kanu, leader of the IPOB movement, is currently serving a life sentence after being convicted on terrorism-related charges by a Federal High Court in Abuja in November 2025.

The court found him guilty on multiple counts, including incitement, membership of a proscribed organisation, and alleged involvement in activities linked to separatist violence in the South-East.

Following the judgment, Kanu rejected the ruling and filed an appeal challenging both his conviction and sentence, while his legal team continues to argue that the trial was unfair and should be overturned.