Convicted IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has again signalled that the long-running case of the convicted IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is edging toward a political resolution — one he insists is rooted in diplomacy, dialogue and a carefully negotiated plan already in motion.
In a statement released in Umuahia by his media aide, Ferdinand Ekeoma, Otti confirmed that the legal window for Kanu to appeal his conviction does not derail ongoing efforts aimed at securing his freedom through a parallel political arrangement.
According to the governor, he has been in quiet but sustained talks with “well-meaning Nigerians” and senior officials of the Federal Government.
Otti said the engagements, which began as far back as December 22, 2023, were designed to create an alternative path toward ending the stalemate around Kanu’s trial.
He revealed that part of the understanding reached with federal authorities was tied to the timely conclusion of the case at the Federal High Court — a judgement he said took longer than expected. Now that the verdict has been delivered, Otti believes the plan can finally move forward.
The governor disclosed that he personally briefed Kanu on the strategy during his visit to the IPOB leader in DSS custody earlier this year. He lamented that early missteps in handling IPOB’s activities helped escalate the situation to its current state, warning that repeating such errors could worsen security tensions in the South East.
Otti appealed to residents to stay calm and avoid actions or rhetoric that could jeopardise the fragile progress made so far. “This is a delicate moment,” he stressed, noting that Abuja has given him assurances that a breakthrough is within reach and that Kanu “will regain his freedom.”
He also cautioned politicians against turning the matter into a tool for “petty and dirty politics,” insisting that genuine cooperation — not grandstanding — is what the region needs now.
Reaffirming his commitment, Otti maintained that dialogue remains the most effective route to lasting peace, and he pledged to continue working to restore stability across the South East as efforts to free Kanu enter what he described as a decisive phase.
All of this comes against a stark legal backdrop: Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja recently sentenced Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment for terrorism. The embattled IPOB leader has been transferred to Nigerian correctional facility in Sokoto State to serve his sentence.
The heavy ruling has only heightened the stakes, making Otti’s pursuit of a political solution even more urgent.
