Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has given the Federal Government 14 days to ensure that the appeal filed by its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is listed and heard.
The group threatened to boycott forthcoming elections across Biafraland and beyond if the demand was not met.
IPOB made its position known in a statement on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, expressing concern over what it described as the slow pace of proceedings following Kanu’s conviction.
The group alleged that while the Federal Government acted swiftly to prosecute and convict its leader, it had shown little urgency in responding to the appeal against the conviction.
It also questioned the legal basis for Kanu’s conviction and continued detention, asking under which extant law he was convicted and what offence justified his continued detention.
According to IPOB, a separate legal challenge is pending before the Supreme Court over the legality of the continuation of Kanu’s trial after some of the charges against him had earlier been quashed.
The group said the Federal Government must therefore defend both Kanu’s conviction and the jurisdictional basis on which his resumed trial was conducted.
IPOB warned that failure to have the appeal listed and heard within 14 days would result in what it described as a total boycott of forthcoming elections across Biafraland and beyond.
The organisation also defended the proposed boycott against arguments that it could benefit President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
IPOB said it did not call for an election boycott in 2023, adding that its supporters participated in the election.
It argued, however, that despite their participation, the results were disputed and subsequent legal challenges were unsuccessful.
The group said repeated participation in elections followed by allegations of rigging and unsuccessful court challenges had raised questions about the effectiveness of the electoral process.
It described a collective refusal to participate in elections as a political statement by people who had lost confidence in the electoral system.
IPOB urged those opposed to the proposed boycott to instead direct their efforts towards ensuring that Kanu’s appeal was heard.
The group said the Federal Government had two options: release Kanu or appear in court to defend his conviction and the legal basis of his trial.
IPOB reiterated its demand for Kanu’s immediate and unconditional release, warning that failure to act within the 14-day deadline would trigger a total election boycott across Biafraland and beyond.
