The south-east caucus in the house of representatives has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to extend clemency to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), following his recent conviction on terrorism charges.
Kanu received a life sentence last week after being found guilty on five of the seven terrorism counts brought against him by the federal government.
Prior to the verdict, James Omotosho, the presiding judge, ordered Kanu out of the courtroom, citing what he called “unruly conduct.”
Hours after the sentencing, Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s lawyer, stated on X that his client had been moved from the Department of State Services (DSS) facility in Abuja to a correctional centre in Sokoto.
After meeting on Monday at the national assembly complex, 42 members of the south-east caucus resolved to make a direct appeal to President Tinubu on Kanu’s behalf.
The lawmakers said Kanu’s imprisonment is heightening the already fragile security situation in the region.
Reading the communiqué from the meeting, Idu Igariwey, who represents the Afikpo north and south constituency of Ebonyi, explained that while the caucus respects the judiciary, the issue now requires a political solution.
The communiqué, titled ‘Appeal for a political and humanitarian resolution in the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’, urged Tinubu to prioritise national stability over strict legal interpretation.
Igariwey noted that although the lawmakers respect the conviction process, they also recognise when a legal matter becomes a broader national issue with serious humanitarian, economic, and security implications.
He said the caucus agreed to ask the president to consider a “political and humanitarian intervention” under section 175 of the Constitution to grant Kanu a pardon.
The lawmakers said Kanu’s continued detention has intensified agitation in the south-east.
Igariwey added that a presidential act of mercy could help calm tensions, restore stability, and reduce the cycle of security operations and civil pushback.
He observed that the region has suffered significant social and economic disruptions, including closed markets, interrupted education, reduced commercial activity, and widespread fear.
The caucus maintained that a political settlement would help ease these hardships and allow normal life to resume.
Igariwey said Nigeria has previously relied on presidential pardons to mend divisions in times of national strain, noting that section 175 was designed for situations where legal processes alone may not resolve complex issues.
He added that granting pardon to Kanu would send a message of unity and potentially open the door for deeper engagement between the federal government and south-east stakeholders.
The caucus also encouraged residents of the region to stay calm and obey the law.