Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has expressed strong optimism that the release of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu could be achieved through political means following his recent sentencing.
Court Sentencing and Immediate Response
The development comes after November 20, 2025, when the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered a life imprisonment sentence against the controversial IPOB leader. In the aftermath of this significant judicial decision, Deputy Speaker Kalu immediately addressed the public, urging calm among Nigerians, particularly those in the Southeast region.
Kalu emphasized that all hope was not lost despite the court's ruling. He explained that the legal proceedings had previously hindered political interventions, but with the court process concluded, new opportunities for resolution had emerged.
Confidence in Presidential Intervention
The Deputy Speaker expressed considerable confidence in President Bola Tinubu's willingness to consider appeals from Igbo leaders regarding the matter. "We are sure that the President is not averse to it," Kalu stated, highlighting his belief in the administration's openness to political solutions.
Kalu's remarks signal a strategic shift from legal battles to political negotiations, indicating that the case may now move from the courtroom to the political arena where dialogue and compromise could prevail.
Call for Calm and Unity
In his public statement, the Deputy Speaker made a passionate appeal for peace and patience. "It is now time to explore political solutions that had been hindered because the matter was before the court," Kalu explained. "But now that the court has finished, it is time to intensify request for the President's intervention and we are sure that the President is not averse to it. We are going to get it. All hope is not lost. Our people should remain calm."
The Deputy Speaker's intervention represents a significant development in the long-standing case that has generated substantial attention across Nigeria and within the international community. His position as a prominent political figure from the Southeast adds considerable weight to the renewed push for a political resolution.
As the situation develops, all eyes remain on the administration's response to these calls for political intervention and whether this approach will indeed lead to Nnamdi Kanu's release as Deputy Speaker Kalu optimistically predicts.
