Lagos lawmaker urges Tinubu to free Nnamdi Kanu to boost APC 2027 chances

A former Lagos State House of Assembly member, Jude Idimogu, has called on President Bola Tinubu to grant clemency to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Kanu, arrested in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2021 and extradited to Nigeria, has remained in custody facing trial on charges linked to his secessionist campaign.

Speaking  in Lagos on Sunday, Idimogu argued that freeing Kanu would not only ease tensions in the South-East but also strengthen the ruling All Progressives Congress’ (APC) chances in the 2027 general elections.

“It will add to our votes in the South-East. If the President can look at this issue, the South-East will never forget him but forever be grateful,” he said.

Idimogu appealed to Igbo leaders, South-East governors, and other influential Nigerians to join the call for Kanu’s release, describing it as a political and social step toward peace.

“I want to plead with our President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to kindly see the need to use political means to grant Nnamdi Kanu clemency. I want to appeal to all well meaning Nigerians, not just those from Igbo extraction, to help plead with Mr President to use his good office to release Nnamdi Kanu. If this is done, I believe the insecurity situation and tension in the South-East will reduce if not completely curbed and eradicated,” he said.

According to him, criminal elements have exploited Kanu’s name to perpetrate violence in the region. Idimogu, who serves as the deputy leader of Ndigbo in the Lagos APC, maintained that Kanu’s release would help revive businesses and improve the region’s economy.

“Mr President, kindly look at the South-East case and bring back businesses and trading long stagnated in the region because of insecurity. An average Igbo man is a trader. We cannot overlook this situation and the contributions of these traders in the South-East to the economy. South-East used to be home to a lot of people before now, it just suddenly changed to be dens of insecurity and other vices.

“This can be arrested with Kanu’s release. Mr President, we know you to be a father with a compassionate heart, please, help us in the South-East, grant Kanu freedom to stabilise our region,” Idimogu said.