Embattled IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu
South-East caucus in the House of Representatives has made a fresh appeal to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to exercise his constitutional powers and grant a presidential pardon to detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu—an act they describe as vital for national healing and long-term stability.
In a statement jointly endorsed by all federal lawmakers from the region, the caucus said the time had come for the government to reassess the circumstances surrounding Kanu’s life sentence, especially its impact on peace and security in the South-East and the country at large.
“As elected representatives, we reaffirm our total respect for the judiciary and the processes that led to the conviction,” the lawmakers said.
“However, our responsibility also requires us to speak with clarity when a legal matter evolves into a broader national concern, with serious humanitarian, economic and security consequences.”
The legislators explained that after wide consultations, they collectively agreed to appeal to President Tinubu to invoke Section 175 of the Constitution to offer Kanu a state pardon.
They described the move as both a political and humanitarian necessity.
“We, therefore, in the spirit of national healing, unity and responsible leadership, respectfully urge the president to consider this request as an investment in Nigeria’s long-term peace and cohesion,” the caucus added.
They also called for calm across the South-East as efforts continue to find “a peaceful resolution.”
According to the group, Kanu’s continued detention has remained a major trigger of tension and agitation in the region. Despite repeated appeals for calm, the lawmakers said the situation has stayed “strained,” and that a presidential gesture of clemency could drastically reduce hostility, restore normalcy and slow down the cycle of security confrontations.
They noted that beyond politics, the issue has inflicted emotional and social hardship on families and communities.
The region, they stressed, has endured shuttered markets, disrupted schooling, a drop in commercial activity and a climate of fear.
“A political resolution would ease these human burdens and allow communities to return to a dignified life,” the statement read.
The caucus expressed strong belief that a pardon would be widely embraced as a symbol of fairness and statesmanship—“a message that dialogue is still possible, even in difficult circumstances.”
Such an action, they said, would also create room for meaningful engagement between the Federal Government, elected officials and local stakeholders on a sustainable path to peace.
Reaffirming their commitment to national unity, the lawmakers pledged to continue working with the Federal Government to promote inclusive governance and long-term stability across all parts of the country.
