The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has urged President Bola Tinubu to obey court order and release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, to enjoy his bail.

Mr Obi, a former Anambra State governor, spoke on Mr Kanu’s detention by the Nigerian government despite court granting him bail with journalists on Saturday, in Onitsha, Anambra State.

He said, “I don’t see any reason for his (Mr Kanu) continuous detention, especially as the courts have granted him bail. The government must obey the court. We are in a democracy, and we should not be doing things that are arbitrary and not within the law. The rule of law is an intricate asset that we must cherish and live with. I use this opportunity to plead with the Federal Government to ensure that all those who are in similar conditions are released and discussed.”

He also expressed concerns over the insecurity in the country.  

Mr Obi stated, “The primary duty of any government is to ensure the security of its citizens. The current situation in Nigeria with frequent reports of killings, abductions, and other crimes is alarming and threatens the stability of the nation. It is worrisome what is happening in Nigeria with the news of killings, abductions, and other vices that have made Nigeria one of the most insecure places on the earth. In fact, it is leading to a failed nation.”

Mr Obi’s call for the IPOB leader’s release echoes similar appeal from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar. 

Following the mindless murder of some Nigerian soldiers by suspected gunmen, Mr Abubakar urged the federal government to seek political solutions to Mr Kanu’s detention to tame the violence perpetuated in the South-East.

Mr Kanu was abducted and repatriated to Nigeria from Kenya on July 1, 2021, after he fled the country following a military raid on his home during the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. 

Mr Kanu has been in detention since 2021, facing sundry charges including treason. Despite legal challenges, including a recent dismissal of his bail application by an Abuja court in May 2024, Mr Kanu continues to argue against his trial in Nigeria, citing violations of international law.

His prolonged detention is believed to have triggered killings and abductions in the South East.