The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has renewed his call for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, insisting that there is no justification for the continued detention of the Indigenous People of Biafra leader.
Speaking during an interaction with Nigerians in Washington, D.C., United States, Obi said he had consistently maintained that Kanu should not remain in custody, arguing that individuals should not be detained merely for expressing opinions or making critical remarks.
Drawing from his experience as a politician, Obi noted that public figures are often subjected to criticism and name-calling, which should not be regarded as criminal offences.
He also stated that dialogue remains the best approach to addressing agitations across the country, stressing that engagement with aggrieved groups would help government understand their concerns and find lasting solutions.
Kanu is currently serving a life imprisonment sentence after a Federal High Court in Abuja convicted him on terrorism-related charges in November 2025.
He has since appealed the judgment, with his legal team challenging both the conviction and sentence.