By Atoyebi Nike
Activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has fixed October 20 for a peaceful protest march to demand the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Sowore made the announcement on Thursday via his X handle, describing the planned march to Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, as “historic.” He assured that the demonstration would be conducted peacefully and within the law.
“We now have a date for the historic #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest march to the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja. It is October 20 at 7 am,” he wrote.
He also urged South-East governors, lawmakers, traditional rulers, and religious leaders to join the action, saying, “No more empty noise. Every governor, senator, traditional ruler, priest, eze, Igbo person, and every Nigerian who believes in Kanu’s freedom should come out and do more than talk.”
Sowore disclosed that he had personally reached out to key figures, including Anambra State Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, urging them to support the march.
Nnamdi Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services since 2021 following his extradition from Kenya. Despite several court rulings ordering his release, the Federal Government has yet to comply. In 2022, the Court of Appeal discharged and acquitted him, citing violations of international law in his extradition.
Kanu faces charges of terrorism, treasonable felony, and incitement before the Federal High Court in Abuja, all of which he has denied.
