ABUJA, Nigeria — Lawmakers from the south-east in the House of Representatives have called on President Bola Tinubu to grant clemency to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), arguing that his continued imprisonment is worsening insecurity and deepening tensions across the region.
Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment last week after being convicted on five of the seven terrorism charges brought against him by the federal government.
Before delivering judgment, presiding judge James Omotosho ordered him out of the courtroom, citing what he described as “unruly conduct.”
According to his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu was moved hours after the verdict from the Department of State Services (DSS) detention facility in Abuja to a correctional centre in Sokoto.
Following a meeting on Monday, November 24, 2025, at the National Assembly complex, the 42-member south-east caucus resolved to make a direct appeal to the president.
The group said the legal process had run its course but insisted the situation now required political intervention to prevent further deterioration of security in the region.
Reading from a communiqué titled ‘Appeal for a political and humanitarian resolution in the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’, Idu Igariwey, who represents the Afikpo North and South constituency of Ebonyi State, said the caucus respected the judiciary but believed the matter had evolved beyond the courtroom.
“The south-east caucus of the house of representatives met today, November 24, 2025, in Abuja, to review the recent judgement 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,” Igariwey said.
“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.”
He said the caucus had resolved to appeal to Tinubu to exercise his powers under section 175 of the Constitution to grant a “political and humanitarian” pardon.
According to the lawmakers, Kanu’s imprisonment has intensified agitation.
“The continued detention of Mazi Kanu has contributed significantly to tension and agitation in the south-east,” Igariwey said.
“Despite numerous calls for calm, the atmosphere remains strained.”
The communiqué stressed that the region has suffered deep social and economic disruptions as a result of the crisis.
“Beyond its political nature, this matter has taken a deep emotional toll on families, communities, and the general population,” Igariwey added.
“The south-east has experienced profound social disruptions — closed markets, interrupted schooling, reduced commercial activity, and fear.”
He said a presidential act of mercy “has the potential to de-escalate tensions, restore normalcy, and reduce the cycle of security operations and civil resistance.”
The lawmakers also argued that Nigeria has a history of using presidential pardons to “heal divisions and consolidate peace,” noting that the constitutional provision was designed for moments requiring political discretion.
Igariwey said clemency for Kanu would send a signal of inclusiveness and national unity while creating room for broader engagement between the federal government and stakeholders in the region.
The caucus urged residents of the south-east to remain calm and law-abiding as they await the president’s response.
