2027: Igbo Youths Issue Ultimatum to Tinubu: Free Nnamdi Kanu or Lose South-East Votes
UMUAHIA, Nigeria – Igbo youths, under the banner of the All Igbo Youth Forum (AIYF), have issued a bold condition to President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for their support in the 2027 general elections: the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The demand was made during a vibrant press conference and solidarity gathering at Awka Hall, Umuahia, on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, which saw over 600 youths from across the South-East states celebrate Kanu’s recent legal victory in Kenya.
The event, marked by a jubilant street march and solidarity chants, was spurred by a June 26, 2025, ruling by the Kenyan High Court in Nairobi, which declared Kanu’s 2021 abduction, detention, and extraordinary rendition to Nigeria as “illegal, unconstitutional, and a gross violation of his fundamental human rights.” Justice E. C. Mwita, presiding over the case, held the Kenyan government and its security agencies accountable, awarding Kanu 10 million Kenyan shillings in damages. The AIYF described the judgment as “historic” and a vindication of Kanu’s innocence, amplifying their call for his immediate release from the Department of State Services (DSS) custody in Abuja.
Chinedum Obilor, President General of the AIYF and former Deputy Chairman of Umuahia North Local Government Area, spoke on behalf of the group, emphasizing that Tinubu’s electoral prospects in the South-East hinge on Kanu’s release. “Mr. President should not be deceived by empty assurances from Igbo political leaders. We, the youths, are in charge of Igbo land—not the senators, not the governors. If you release Kanu, you don’t need to give us rice or money to vote for you. But if you don’t, we will align with anyone who is willing to release him, regardless of tribe,” Obilor declared.
Obilor warned that ignoring the demand could lead to severe political consequences for the Tinubu administration, referencing the APC’s poor performance in the South-East during the 2023 elections. “Our governors and lawmakers are deceiving you. They claim to have control, but they don’t. Come and work with the youths, or what happened in the last election will happen again,” he cautioned, signaling the youths’ determination to wield their electoral influence.
The AIYF also criticized Igbo political leaders for exploiting Kanu’s name for political gain, urging them to stop. “We are warning our political leaders to stop using Kanu’s name to play politics. That era is over. They hold our mandate, and we can use our votes to take it back,” Obilor stated, reinforcing the group’s resolve to hold politicians accountable.
The youths’ demand aligns with broader calls from Igbo leaders and groups, including the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, which in January 2025 urged Tinubu to honor an alleged pre-2023 promise to release Kanu. The group argued that Kanu’s release would stabilize the South-East, reduce insecurity, and boost Tinubu’s goodwill in the region. Similarly, the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has linked Kanu’s detention to ongoing insecurity, including sit-at-home orders that have crippled the region’s economy, and called for his release to restore peace.
Posts on X reflect the intensity of the sentiment, with users like @BiafranTweets claiming that the Federal Government closed its case against Kanu on June 19, 2025, and predicting his release by July 18, 2025, due to insufficient evidence. Other posts, such as one from @ogundamisi, suggest confidential talks between the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Attorney General for a political solution, potentially aimed at securing South-East votes in 2027. However, these claims remain unverified.
The AIYF’s ultimatum comes amid growing frustration in the South-East over Kanu’s prolonged detention, which many view as a symbol of political marginalization. The Kenyan court’s ruling has reignited calls for justice, with groups like COSEYL arguing that Kanu’s treatment contrasts with the release of Yoruba nation agitator Sunday Igboho, highlighting perceived double standards. Ohanaeze Ndigbo has suggested that Kanu’s release could sway Igbo voters toward Tinubu in 2027, potentially diminishing the influence of figures like Peter Obi and Simon Ekpa.
As Tinubu navigates this politically charged issue, the AIYF’s demand underscores the South-East’s electoral significance. With the 2027 elections looming, Kanu’s fate could determine whether Tinubu gains traction in the region or faces a unified backlash from Igbo youths determined to see their leader freed.
