Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has openly declared support for Omoyele Sowore’s campaign urging the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
In a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, Atiku described Kanu’s prolonged detention as a moral and constitutional failure that undermines the nation’s commitment to justice and the rule of law.
“The continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu remains an open sore on our nation’s conscience and a stain on our belief in the rule of law,” Atiku wrote.
“Defying court orders that granted him bail is an abuse of power and an assault on justice. I, therefore, lend my voice in full support of the campaign led by @YeleSowore for his immediate release or due prosecution.”
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, emphasised that Nigeria risks deepening national wounds if it continues to ignore lawful court directives regarding Kanu’s case.
His comments come days after Sowore, leader of the #RevolutionNow movement, challenged prominent Southeast leaders, including Peter Obi, Charles Soludo, and Alex Otti, to march to Aso Rock in a peaceful show of solidarity for Kanu’s release.
The latest support from Atiku is being seen by Nigerians as a significant boost to Sowore’s campaign, as it brings together two former presidential contenders under a shared call for justice.
“Atiku’s position adds a powerful moral voice to the movement,” a Twitter user wrote. “It shows that Kanu’s detention has moved beyond regional sentiment to become a national concern about fairness and the rule of law.”
AFRIPOST reports that Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021, following his re-arrest and extradition from Kenya.
Despite multiple court rulings granting him bail, the Federal Government has continued to hold him on terrorism-related charges.
The Federal High Court in Abuja recently dismissed Kanu’s no-case submission, insisting that he must open his defence. His legal team has since described the decision as “a miscarriage of justice.”
As public calls for Kanu’s release intensify, Atiku’s intervention may increase pressure on the government to either comply with existing court orders or accelerate his prosecution in line with due process.