The National Chairman of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Dan Iwuanyanwu, has accused some influential politicians and businessmen from the South-East of secretly working against the release of the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
According to Iwuanyanwu, these individuals fear that Kanu’s freedom could threaten their political ambitions and influence in the region. He said this while speaking on Channels Television on Monday.
“There are some top businessmen who are involved in businesses in Abuja, oil and all that,” Iwuanyanwu said during the programme.
“There are some top politicians who are of the view – and which is correct – that if Nnamdi Kanu comes today, there are people whose political career will come to an end permanently without him saying a word. Nnamdi Kanu has been loved by the people,” he added.
The ZLP chairman stated that Kanu’s popularity remains strong and “organic,” adding that his continued detention is not just a matter of national security but also the result of deep political fears within the South-East elite.
Iwuanyanwu’s comments come amid growing calls for the Federal Government to comply with court orders and release Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2021.
Also on Monday, human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, joined protesters in Abuja demanding Kanu’s immediate release.
He warned that continued detention could “further intensify public agitation” across the country.
“Today will be different and nobody can stop this spirit and this is to ensure that we bring our brother home,” Sowore said while addressing the crowd.
He revealed that police and security operatives had used teargas to disperse protesters at several locations, including Utako and Apo, but the demonstrators regrouped and continued their march.
“They teargassed us, we relocated to Utako, they teargassed us, we relocated to Apo, Apo has the biggest so far and that is to show to you that very soon, this will get out of hand if they don’t do something about releasing Nnamdi Kanu,” Sowore stated.
He maintained that the protests were peaceful and aimed at demanding fairness, not violence. “We are not threatening violence, we are just saying that in this country we all deserve a right to be citizens,” he said.
Meanwhile, the demonstrations in Abuja have intensified this week, with several groups insisting that justice must be served.
It could be recalled that Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was first arrested in 2015 and later re-arrested in 2021 after jumping bail.
However, despite several court rulings ordering his release, the DSS has continued to hold him in detention, a situation that has continued to spark both national and international criticism.