HUMAN rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has announced that a protest demanding the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, will take place on October 20, 2025, in Abuja.
Sowore made the announcement on his X (formerly Twitter) handle today, describing the event as a “historic” and peaceful protest march to the Aso Rock Villa.
“We now have a date for the historic #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest march to the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja. It is October 20 at 7 a.m.,” Sowore wrote.
He also called on governors, lawmakers, traditional rulers, and other influential figures from the South-East to join the movement, stressing that it was time for real action rather than empty rhetoric.
“No more empty noise. Let @CCSoludo, @SenatorAbaribe, @alexottiofr, @PeterObi, and all others who claim to care step up and join us in person,” he said.
“Every governor, senator, member of the House, traditional ruler, priest, eze, Igbo person, and every Nigerian who believes in Kanu’s freedom should come out and do more than talk.”
Sowore disclosed that he had reached out to several key figures—including Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo; Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti; Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; Labour Party’s Peter Obi; and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—to support the protest.
While acknowledging that some of the leaders had not yet responded, he expressed optimism about uniting them around a single day of peaceful action.
“This is not the time for hesitation. If we genuinely believe that @MaziNnamdiKanu deserves freedom, then every leader of conscience must act, now, not later,” he emphasized.
Nnamdi Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2021 following his controversial extradition from Kenya.
Despite multiple court rulings ordering his release—including an October 2022 Court of Appeal judgment acquitting him of all charges—the Federal Government has refused to comply.
Kanu is facing charges of terrorism, treasonable felony, and incitement before the Federal High Court in Abuja, all of which he has consistently denied.
Sowore’s planned protest comes amid growing pressure from human rights groups and political leaders calling for the government to respect judicial rulings and release the IPOB leader.