Activist and former presidential candidate, African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has announced October 20 as the date for a protest march to demand the release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Sowore made the announcement on his X handle on Thursday, describing the planned action as a “historic” march to the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja. He assured that the demonstration would be peaceful and conducted within the bounds of the law.
The activist wrote, “We now have a date for the historic #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest march to the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja. It is October 20 at 7 am.”
On Wednesday, Sowore had urged South-East governors, lawmakers, traditional rulers, and religious leaders to actively participate in the protest.
“No more empty noise. Let @CCSoludo, @SenatorAbaribe, @alexottiofr, @PeterObi, and all others who claim to care step up and join us in person.
“Every governor, senator, member of the House, traditional ruler, priest, eze, Igbo person, and every Nigerian who believes in Kanu’s freedom should come out and do more than talk,” he added.
Sowore also revealed that he had reached out to several notable Igbo and political leaders, including Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti; and Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, urging them to lend their support.
“I have tried reaching out personally to Dr. @alexottiofr, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo @CCSoludo, and Mr @PeterObi (through his team) today. Alex Otti and Soludo neither took my calls nor responded to my messages. They promised to tell Mr. @PeterObi about our plans, although he is currently travelling. I also reached out to Alhaji @AtikuAbubakar through his team, while Senator @SenatorAbaribe said he would return my call. I spoke with Obinna Agwuocha of the House of Representatives. He was receptive and encouraging.
“The Abia State House of Assembly members informed me that they plan to travel to London next week and then return directly to Abuja for further action. They mentioned they intend to visit the Attorney General of the Federation first to lodge a complaint; they didn’t anticipate a ‘placard’ protest. I told them, that’s fine; what matters most is that we agree on a unified date for action.
“This is not the time for hesitation. If we genuinely believe that @MaziNnamdiKanu deserves freedom, then every leader of conscience must act, now, not later,” he wrote.
Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services since his re-arrest in 2021 following his controversial extradition from Kenya.
Although several court rulings have ordered his release, the Federal Government has yet to comply, drawing criticism from rights organisations and political figures.
He is currently standing trial on charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, and incitement before the Federal High Court in Abuja, all of which he has denied.
In October 2022, the Court of Appeal discharged and acquitted him of all charges, ruling that his extradition from Kenya violated international law.
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