Abuja, Nigeria – October 9, 2025 – Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has thrown his weight behind a growing campaign for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), describing his prolonged custody as “an open sore on our nation’s conscience” and a direct affront to the rule of law.
In a statement posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, Atiku urged the Bola Tinubu administration to either free Kanu immediately or ensure a fair and speedy trial, condemning the defiance of multiple court orders granting him bail as “an abuse of power and an assault on justice.” “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, explicitly endorsing the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow campaign led by human rights activist and 2023 African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore.
The Spark: Sowore’s Challenge and Planned Protest
Atiku’s intervention follows Sowore’s bold call on Wednesday for a peaceful march to Aso Rock Villa in Abuja to demand Kanu’s release, challenging Southeast political leaders—including Atiku, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Abia Governor Alex Otti, and Abia lawmakers—to join or “stop the rhetoric.” Sowore, who confirmed reaching out to Atiku through his team and receiving a callback promise from Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, emphasized setting aside political differences for justice. Kanu’s special counsel, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejimakor, quickly pledged to join the protest, asking, “Who is with me?”
This comes amid escalating demands from groups like the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), who staged a protest in Abuja on October 1, labeling Kanu’s detention an “injustice” despite bail rulings.
Kanu’s Legal Saga: From Rendition to Court Battles
Kanu, 57, has been held by the Department of State Services (DSS) since his controversial extraordinary rendition from Kenya in June 2021, where he faces terrorism-related charges before Justice James Omotosho’s Federal High Court in Abuja. The IPOB leader, who jumped bail in 2017 before his rearrest, has repeatedly raised alarms about his deteriorating health in custody, including claims of poisoning and inadequate medical care. Courts have granted him bail multiple times—most recently in 2022—but the government has appealed and maintained his detention, drawing widespread criticism for subverting judicial authority.
Atiku, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in 2023, framed the issue as a test of Nigeria’s democratic credentials, warning that ignoring court orders erodes public trust in institutions.
Mixed Reactions: Support, Backlash, and Political Hypocrisy Claims
Atiku’s stance has polarized public discourse, trending under #FreeNnamdiKanuNow on X with over 100,000 engagements since Thursday morning. Supporters, including IPOB sympathizers and civil society groups, hailed him as a “voice of reason,” with comments like “Atiku speaking truth to power—justice for Mazi!” Sowore thanked Atiku for amplifying the cause, noting it adds “significant weight” to the protest planned for October 10.
Critics, however, accused him of hypocrisy. Lere Olayinka, aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, labeled Atiku a “hypocrite” for not condemning the 2022 murder of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto over blasphemy allegations, contrasting it with his vocal support for Kanu. APC-aligned voices dismissed the call as opportunistic politicking ahead of 2027, with one X user posting: “Atiku silent on northern issues, loud on Biafra? Selective justice.”
The Tinubu administration has yet to respond, but the Presidency’s past defenses of Kanu’s detention cite national security concerns tied to IPOB’s activities in the Southeast. As protests loom, Atiku’s endorsement could galvanize opposition forces, intensifying pressure on a case that has long symbolized Nigeria’s ethnic and judicial fault lines.