A fresh wave of political pressure has emerged as 44 members of the House of Representatives have jointly urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to halt the prosecution of Nnamdi Kanu and pursue a political settlement to the long-running matter.
The lawmakers said their intervention reflects a growing national demand for de-escalation, reconciliation, and a shift toward dialogue after years of tension triggered by the IPOB leader’s detention.
Furthermore, the group stressed that the renewed call aligns with court decisions and international tribunal pronouncements that have repeatedly questioned Kanu’s continued detention.
According to them, a political solution would help calm persistent security and social disruptions linked to the issue, especially in the Southeast.
The appeal was conveyed in a detailed, two-page letter addressed to President Tinubu and coordinated by Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere.
Signed by lawmakers from different regions, including the North and South, the document urged the President to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation to discontinue the prosecution “as soon as practicable.”
The letter stated that their united position was informed by what they described as a national-interest-driven need for healing.
“After closed-door consultations across party lines and ethnic divides, we resolved that discontinuing the prosecution and embracing dialogue provides the most realistic path to long-term stability,” the lawmakers wrote.
They pointed to instances where the Federal Government had opened negotiations with other agitating groups in different parts of the country, arguing that applying similar measures in Kanu’s case would help rebuild trust and curb the insecurity that had heightened in the Southeast since 2015.
They emphasised that numerous domestic and international rulings had strengthened the argument for his release.
The lawmakers’ appeal stated: “We respectfully request Mr President to direct the Attorney-General to exercise constitutional powers and discontinue the prosecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and thereafter initiate a constructive dialogue to secure a just political solution.”
Kanu’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, welcomed the development, describing it as a “major turning point” that confirms the legal and moral weight behind calls for his client’s release.
He noted that the intervention of 44 sitting legislators shows that the issue has moved far beyond partisan lines, adding that it “reflects a clear national desire for reconciliation.”
Ejimakor argued that the lawmakers’ position reinforces existing court victories in Kanu’s favour. “This is not just political goodwill; it is consistent with the law,” he said, urging the presidency to act promptly.
The lawmakers concluded their letter by expressing confidence that President Tinubu would consider their request in the interest of national cohesion, asserting that a political resolution remains the most viable path toward lasting peace.
The development marks one of the largest parliamentary interventions on the case, heightening expectations of a possible policy shift and intensifying the public debate over how best to address the long-standing agitation linked to Nnamdi Kanu’s detention.