Nnamdi Kanu Rejects Biafra Talks Without Referendum, Urges Diaspora Support

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has insisted that any negotiation on Biafra must include a referendum on independence, declaring that he will not accept a political settlement that leaves the demand out.

Kanu stated this position in an address to the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) at its 2026 annual convention in Duluth, Georgia, United States, held from October 9 to 11.

In the address, he rejected proposals centred on political appointments, restructuring or another conference if they did not provide for a vote on Biafran independence.

“Referendum, or the unilateral pursuit of Biafran sovereignty. There is no middle ground,” Kanu said, according to an October 11 report by Sahara Reporters.

He maintained that the central issue was the right of the people concerned to decide their political future through a free vote.

Kanu urges supporters to continue campaign

The IPOB leader thanked AVID and other pro-Biafra organisations for their support during his detention and urged them to continue campaigning for his release.

He specifically commended AVID president, Dr Sylvester Onyia, whom he credited with travelling repeatedly to Abuja to attend court proceedings and advocating for his release.

Kanu also acknowledged the contributions of groups including Rising Sun and Ambassadors for Self-Determination. He called on the organisations to sustain their efforts on behalf of himself and other people he described as unjustly detained.

He urged diaspora supporters to pursue their advocacy through what he described as lawful and honourable means.

The convention was held under the theme “Maka Odi Nma Ndi Igbo,” which translates to “For the Good and Benefit of the Igbo People.”

Kanu alleges government interference in IPOB

In the address, Kanu alleged that the Nigerian government had interfered with IPOB’s internal leadership structure and contributed to divisions within the organisation.

He claimed that the group’s Third Administration of the Directorate of State had been infiltrated and subsequently dissolved. He also said individuals he accused of betraying the movement had been expelled.

These claims were made by Kanu in his address and were not independently established in the report.

He praised AVID for maintaining its support for his leadership during the period of internal tensions, while stressing that unity and discipline were important to the continuation of the self-determination campaign.

Kanu renews criticism of his legal case

Kanu also criticised the handling of his case by Nigerian authorities and the courts, describing the proceedings and their outcome as unjust.

He reiterated his allegation that he was abducted in Kenya and unlawfully transferred to Nigeria, where he was detained and prosecuted.

He further argued that his conviction relied on repealed laws and disregarded an earlier acquittal. These are Kanu’s claims; they should not be treated as independent findings about the legal proceedings.

Kanu said his years in detention had not changed his commitment to Biafran independence. He described his objective as establishing a homeland where the people concerned could live under their own laws.

Referendum remains central to Kanu’s position

Kanu’s address made clear that he would not accept a political arrangement that required him to abandon the demand for a referendum.

His position places the question of Biafran sovereignty at the centre of any discussions he is willing to consider. However, the address does not establish that the Federal Government has agreed to a referendum or that negotiations on the terms he outlined are underway.

The Nigerian government has opposed the separatist campaign, and the issue remains contentious within the country’s political and constitutional framework.

Kanu also urged AVID members to draw inspiration from the history associated with Igbo Landing in Georgia, a site connected to an 1803 incident involving enslaved Igbo captives. He encouraged the organisation to continue advocating for self-determination and the rights of the Igbo people.

The latest address reinforces Kanu’s position that a referendum on independence must be part of any political discussion about Biafra.

Source: Sahara Reporters