#FreeKanu Protest Gains Nationwide Backing as Igbo Leaders Rally Behind Sowore’s Call

Momentum is building ahead of the planned nationwide #FreeNnamdiKanu protest spearheaded by activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, as Igbo leaders across traditional, political, and religious lines declare their support for the movement.

The protest, scheduled for October 20, aims to compel the Federal Government to comply with court orders directing the release of detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Sowore, in his announcement earlier this week, described the demonstration as a “mass action for justice, peace, and the rule of law,” insisting it represents a broader demand for respect for judicial authority and an end to selective justice in Nigeria.

Prominent Igbo figures including former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, ex-Minister of Education and Health Professor Ihechukwu Madubuike, and Abia monarchs have all endorsed the protest. They described Kanu’s release as a national issue, urging President Bola Tinubu to heed public calls for justice.

Wabara, speaking from abroad where he is receiving medical treatment, said he would have personally joined the march if he were in Nigeria, while Madubuike emphasized that the protest transcends ethnic boundaries, calling it “a gathering of humanity in favour of freedom.”

The Chairman of Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Linus Nto Mbah, reiterated that Kanu’s release is crucial to restoring peace in the Southeast. He appealed for calm, urging both protesters and security operatives to avoid violence and ensure the demonstration remains peaceful.

Religious leaders have also thrown their weight behind the movement. Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, Raphael Opoko, described it as a “pan-Nigerian march for justice,” warning that government’s selective approach to justice fuels discontent. He questioned why known armed bandits are granted amnesty while Kanu, who has court rulings in his favour, remains in detention. “Those who make peaceful change difficult make violent change inevitable,” he cautioned.

Women’s groups have joined the chorus of support. The Igbo Women Assembly (IWA), led by Lolo Nneka Chimezie, announced plans to participate in the Abuja rally, calling on security agencies to protect protesters. “Kanu is our son, and we cannot abandon him,” Chimezie said, urging President Tinubu to exercise his prerogative of mercy.

Political leaders such as Chief Chekwas Okorie, founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), also endorsed the protest, calling Kanu’s prolonged detention a “national embarrassment.” He described Sowore’s action as “a courageous step reflecting the collective frustration of Ndigbo.”

Former Aka Ikenga President, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, and Ohanaeze Youth Council leader, Comrade Igboayaka Igboayaka, both backed the protest, with the latter describing it as “the first-ever pan-Nigerian demonstration for justice.” He urged Tinubu to withdraw all charges against Kanu, warning that continued detention could deepen national divisions.

However, the planned protest has drawn sharp criticism from the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), which described it as “reckless and provocative.” At a press conference in Abuja, CNG’s National Coordinator, Jamilu Charanchi, said Kanu must face trial, accusing him of inciting violence and undermining Nigeria’s unity. The group urged security agencies to prevent any breakdown of law and order during the demonstrations.

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has also cautioned young people against participating, citing a Federal High Court order restraining the rally and a U.S. Embassy advisory warning of possible unrest.

Nnamdi Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021, facing charges bordering on terrorism and treasonable felony. Despite several court rulings ordering his release, the Federal Government has yet to comply — a situation Sowore and other activists say has become a test of Nigeria’s commitment to justice and the rule of law.