Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has publicly called for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in what many political observers see as a strategic move to win the sympathy of the Southeast ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, Atiku described Kanu’s continued detention as “an open sore on our nation’s conscience and a stain on our belief in the rule of law.”
He condemned the Federal Government’s refusal to comply with court rulings that granted the IPOB leader bail, saying such defiance amounted to “an abuse of power and an assault on justice.”
Atiku wrote, “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. Defying court orders that granted him bail is an abuse of power and an assault on justice.”
The former vice president further expressed support for the campaign led by rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, demanding Kanu’s immediate release or fair prosecution.
“I, therefore, lend my voice in full support of the campaign led by @YeleSowore for his immediate release or due prosecution,” he stated.
Atiku concluded by warning that Nigeria risks deepening its wounds if Kanu’s case continues to be mishandled, adding, “We fail as patriots if we allow Kanu’s case to fester as yet another wound this nation refuses to heal.”
The statement has sparked widespread reactions across the country, particularly among political analysts who believe Atiku’s latest intervention may be an attempt to regain the trust of voters in the Southeast region, where he suffered major electoral setbacks in 2023.
While some Nigerians commended him for standing up for justice and human rights, others accused him of political desperation, arguing that his newfound advocacy for Kanu’s release was driven more by electoral calculation than genuine concern for the rule of law.