South-East Reps urge President Tinubu to pardon Nnamdi Kanu

The South East caucus in the House of Representatives has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to grant clemency to the convicted leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Kanu was last week sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty on five of the seven terrorism-related charges brought against him by the Federal Government.

Before the verdict, the trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, had ordered Kanu out of the courtroom over what he described as contemptuous and unruly behaviour.

Hours after the life sentence was delivered, Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, announced on X that his client had been moved from the Department of State Services detention facility in Abuja to a correctional centre in Sokoto.

Meeting on Monday at the National Assembly Complex, 42 members of the South East caucus resolved to appeal directly to the President to exercise mercy, warning that Kanu’s continued incarceration is worsening the fragile security climate in the region.

Reading a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, Ebonyi lawmaker, Idu Igariwey, said the caucus would continue to respect the judiciary but insisted that the moment called for a political solution.

Titled “Appeal for a political and humanitarian resolution in the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” the communiqué urged Tinubu to elevate national stability above the strict application of the law.

The South-East caucus of the House of Representatives met today, November 24, 2025, in Abuja, to review the recent judgment in the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and to assess its implications for peace, security, and stability in the South-East region, and the nation at large.

“As elected representatives, we reaffirm our total respect for the judiciary and the processes that led to the conviction. However, our responsibility also requires us to speak with clarity when a legal matter evolves into a broader national concern with serious humanitarian, economic, and security consequences.

“After extensive deliberation, the caucus resolved to humbly appeal to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Tinubu, GCFR, to consider a political and humanitarian intervention using the constitutional powers granted under Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution, to grant pardon to Mazi Kanu,” Igariwey said.

The lawmakers argued that the detention of the IPOB leader has continued to fuel agitation across the region, saying, “The continued detention of Mazi Kanu has contributed significantly to tension and agitation in the South-East.

“Despite numerous calls for calm, the atmosphere remains strained. A presidential act of mercy at this time has the potential to de-escalate tensions, restore normalcy, and reduce the cycle of security operations and civil resistance.”

They added that the region has endured severe social and economic disruption.

“Beyond its political nature, this matter has taken a deep emotional toll on families, communities, and the general population. The South-East has experienced profound social disruptions — closed markets, interrupted schooling, reduced commercial activity, and fear.

A political resolution would ease these human burdens and allow communities to return to a dignified life,” they added.

Igariwey recalled Nigeria’s history of using presidential clemency to mend national fractures.

“Nigeria has, in critical moments in its history, relied on presidential magnanimity to heal divisions and consolidate peace. Indeed, the authors of our constitution conceived of Section 175 in anticipation that the bare dictates of the law may sometimes prove insufficient in tackling complex legal issues that are better handled politically via presidential discretion.

“We believe that an act of clemency by the president would resonate deeply across the country as a symbol of inclusiveness, fairness, and leadership that prioritises healing over division. It would send a clear message that dialogue is still possible, even in difficult circumstances.

“The caucus believes that the release of Mazi Kanu, through pardon, would open space for broader engagement between the Federal Government, elected leaders, and community stakeholders to chart a sustainable and peaceful path forward.

“In the spirit of national healing, unity, and responsible leadership, we respectfully urge the President to consider this request as an investment in Nigeria’s long-term peace and cohesion,” he added.

The caucus urged residents of the region to remain calm and law-abiding, assuring them that its engagement with the Federal Government will continue.