Human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has announced October 20 as the date for a peaceful protest in Abuja to demand the release of the detained leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
He also said that he has reached out to prominent Nigerians to join the crusade for Kanu’s release.
Sowore, in a post on his X handle on Thursday, described the planned demonstration as a “historic” march to the Aso Rock Villa, adding that it would be conducted peacefully and within the ambit of 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.
Recall that the activist, who has been vocal against Kanu’s continued detention, on Wednesday, urged South-East governors, lawmakers, traditional rulers, and religious leaders to join the protest.
“No more empty noise. Let @CCSoludo, @SenatorAbaribe, @alexottiofr, @PeterObi, and all others who claim to care step up and join us in person. Every governor, senator, member of the House, traditional ruler, priest, eze, Igbo person, and every Nigerian who believes in Kanu’s freedom should come out and do more than talk,” he stated.
Sowore further revealed that he had personally reached out to several key figures, including Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti; Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi; and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
According to him, while Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe was “receptive and encouraging,” Soludo and Otti “neither took my calls nor responded to my messages.” He added that Obi’s team acknowledged his message, explaining that the former Anambra State governor was currently travelling.
“I also reached out to Alhaji @AtikuAbubakar through his team, while Senator @SenatorAbaribe said he would return my call. I spoke with Obinna Agwuocha of the House of Representatives. He was receptive and encouraging,” Sowore noted.
He disclosed that members of the Abia State House of Assembly expressed interest in joining the movement after their scheduled trip to London.
“They mentioned they intend to visit the Attorney General of the Federation first to lodge a complaint; they didn’t anticipate a ‘placard’ protest. I told them, that’s fine; what matters most is that we agree on a unified date for action,” he added.
Sowore emphasised that the time for hesitation was over, insisting that “every leader of conscience must act now, not later.”
“If we genuinely believe that @MaziNnamdiKanu deserves freedom, then every leader of conscience must act, now, not later,” he declared.
LEADERSHIP reports that Nnamdi Kanu has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his re-arrest in 2021 following his controversial extradition from Kenya.
Despite multiple court rulings ordering his release, the Federal Government was yet to comply. Kanu faces charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, and incitement before the Federal High Court in Abuja — charges he has consistently denied.
