Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has publicly addressed the speculation surrounding his recent visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, firmly stating that the discussion centred on the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and not on any political defection.
The Core of the Aso Rock Meeting
In a statement released on Thursday, December 4, 2025, and confirmed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, Governor Otti clarified the purpose of his Tuesday, December 2 meeting with the President. This clarification came as a direct response to claims made by a former commissioner in the state, Charles Ogbonnaya, who alleged the governor was discussing plans to defect from the Labour Party (LP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor's spokesperson emphasised that the issue of Nnamdi Kanu was the only subject on the agenda. Ekeoma revealed that the meeting was a continuation of engagements Governor Otti has had with the Federal Government on this matter over the past two years. He described the encounter with President Tinubu as both positive and fruitful, noting the President's gracious and generous disposition during the talks.
Context: The Visit to Sokoto Custodial Centre
This high-level meeting followed closely on the heels of Governor Otti's personal visit to Nnamdi Kanu at the Sokoto Correctional Centre on Sunday, November 30, 2025. Kanu is currently serving a life sentence handed down by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The visit and subsequent meeting with the President underscore the governor's active involvement in seeking a resolution to the long-standing case, which has significant implications for security and political stability in the South-East region.
Growing Calls for Kanu's Release
Meanwhile, pressure on the Federal Government to find a political solution is mounting from various quarters. The Igbo Community Association in Abuja has added its voice to the call, urging President Tinubu to heed advice from well-meaning Nigerians and the international community to release the IPOB leader.
The group's President-General, Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, argued that Kanu's continued imprisonment is having negative repercussions throughout the South-East, the nation, and the diaspora. The association specifically pointed to the appeal made by forty-four members of the National Assembly, joining the chorus for a political resolution to the impasse.
In a related development, Kanu himself has dismissed the court verdict against him as rubbish, with his legal consultant, Aloy Ejimakor, vowing to challenge the life sentence. The case remains a focal point of national discourse, intertwining legal, political, and regional security dimensions.
