The Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders Forum (NNYLF) has advised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and rights activist Omoyele Sowore, to refrain from exploiting the detention of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu for political gain.
The youths said they will not stand by while Atiku and Sowore use Kanu’s ordeal as a political pawn or a tool to ignite unrest in the country. Instead, they urged all parties to respect the legal process and allow the courts to handle Kanu’s ongoing terrorism trial.
At a press conference in Abuja , Comrade Murtala Muhammed Gamji, the National President of the Forum, announced their plans to hold a counter-rally in support of President Bola Tinubu’s reforms, scheduled to begin on October 20, 2025.
Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president and 2023 PDP presidential candidate, had joined Sowore in calling for Kanu’s immediate release, describing his continued detention as a “stain on Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law.”
Kanu faces charges of terrorism, treasonable felony, and incitement in Abuja, charges he has consistently denied. He remains in detention despite multiple court rulings ordering his release on bail.
Atiku expressed his support for Sowore’s campaign, stating, “The continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu remains an open sore on our nation’s conscience and a stain on our belief in the rule of law.
Ignoring court orders that granted him bail is an abuse of power and a miscarriage of justice. I fully support the campaign calling for his release or due process.”
Sowore had earlier called on South-East leaders—including governors, lawmakers, traditional rulers, and religious figures—to join the planned demonstration for Kanu’s release on October 20, 2025. He also reached out to prominent Igbo figures, including the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
However, Gamji stated, “We are here to express our displeasure and to make it clear that we do not support Nigerian politicians who are exploiting Nnamdi Kanu’s detention to stir unrest. Sowore and Atiku are organising a rally to free Kanu, but we oppose this. Their motives are selfish—they want to use the blood of Nigerian youths to advance their political interests.”
He further warned Sowore, recalling past controversial remarks, urging him to be cautious with his actions. “The biggest mistake they are making is underestimating the strength of over 63 million young, vibrant Northern youths, who will be out in Abuja from October 20 to 23 to support President Tinubu’s initiatives and to call for peace and progress in Nigeria,” Gamji stated.
