JUST IN: Tinubu’s government announces readiness to negotiate Nnamdi Kanu’s release as 2027 election approaches 

Tinubu’s government announces readiness to negotiate Nnamdi Kanu’s release as 2027 election approaches

 

 

 

The Federal Government has expressed its willingness to enter into dialogue over the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who has been in detention since his extradition in 2021.

 

However, it firmly maintains that any negotiations must not be tied to political demands or used as a bargaining chip for electoral support.

 

Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, made this known on Friday during a press briefing in Lagos, where he addressed growing concerns and speculation about the Federal Government’s stance on Kanu’s case as the 2027 general elections draw closer.

 

“We are willing to negotiate his release, but no one should make it a condition [for political support] because the President did not put him there,” Umahi said, dismissing suggestions that the South East was using Kanu’s detention as leverage to back President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

 

Senator Umahi, a former governor of Ebonyi State and a prominent political figure from the South East, praised President Tinubu for his leadership so far, describing him as a “listening leader” committed to national development and unity.

 

“President Tinubu may not be perfect, but he is doing most things right,” Umahi said. “Look at where he picked up the economy from. The international community has confidence in his reforms. That is why we are getting support for our projects.”

 

He cited the ongoing rehabilitation of federal roads and other infrastructural projects in the South East as proof that the region is receiving significant attention under Tinubu’s leadership — a departure from what he described as years of neglect by previous administrations.

 

Addressing concerns over marginalisation in federal appointments, Umahi argued that the Tinubu administration has done more for the South East than many of its predecessors, urging critics to “show us what they have done for the country.”

 

He also called for unity among South East political leaders, encouraging cooperation across party lines. “Even opposition governors in the region are collaborating well with the President,” he said.

 

Amid speculation about his own political future, Umahi stated categorically that he has no intention of contesting the presidency in 2027. “I will not run. I will work for my boss, President Tinubu. APC is the path to achieving what we want. The South East now has a voice at the centre. We will not return to Egypt,” he said, using a biblical metaphor to underscore the region’s commitment to the current administration.

 

Nnamdi Kanu’s prolonged detention has been a flashpoint in national discourse and a rallying cry for pro-Biafra activists and some political actors in the South East. Calls for his release have intensified, especially in the context of national reconciliation and healing.

 

However, the Federal Government’s latest position suggests a shift towards dialogue — albeit on its own terms — as it attempts to balance national security concerns with growing political sensitivities ahead of a highly anticipated 2027 election season.