Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, on Thursday led protests in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State demanding the release of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, from prison.
Francis Nwapa, a revolutionary activist, said in a statement that Sowore’s attendance at the demonstration is a reflection of years of persistent agitation against state repression and the Nigerian government’s infringement of citizens’ democratic rights.
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According to Nwapa, Sowore has been among the most prominent voices demanding Nnamdi Kanu’s release and condemning the militarisation of Nigeria’s South-East region.
“For nearly a decade, Sowore has been among the most visible voices demanding Kanu’s release and condemning the militarisation of the South-East”
“His intervention in Aba is therefore not opportunistic; it is the continuation of a long-standing struggle against injustice and political persecution,” Nwapa stated
The demonstration, which attracted activists and supporters from many groups, took place in the midst of fresh demands from the Nigerian government led by President Bola Tinubu for Kanu’s release from prison.
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Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was detained in the Department of State Services (DSS) from June 2021 to November 2025. After being found guilty on seven counts that bordered on terrorism and treason, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Kanu to life in prison.
However, according to Nwapa’s statement, the demonstration in Aba on Thursday was about more than just calling for Kanu’s freedom; it was also about fighting against political persecution and injustice in general.
Additionally, he criticised the “political opportunism” of former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, saying Obi remains part of Nigeria’s political elite.
According to him, Obi’s economic ideology promotes policies such as privatisation and austerity, which he said have contributed to worsening poverty, unemployment and inequality across Nigeria.
“Peter Obi is not outside the system responsible for Nigeria’s crisis. He is a long-standing member of the same ruling elite that has dominated Nigerian politics for decades,” Nwapa said.
Nwapa argued that Obi’s popularity in the South-East is largely tied to regional identity rather than policies that address the socio-economic conditions of ordinary people.
According to Nwapa, Nigerians, especially workers and young people, must reject the “false alternatives” put forth by the political class in favour of creating a large-scale political movement that can challenge injustice and state oppression.
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