Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has reiterated his opposition to political compromises that do not provide for a referendum on Biafra’s self-determination, insisting that the future of the region must be decided through a vote.
Kanu reportedly made the position known in an address presented on his behalf at the 2026 annual convention of the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), held in Duluth, Georgia, United States, from October 9 to 11.
In the address, dated September 30, 2026, Kanu maintained that a referendum should be the central subject of any discussion concerning Biafra’s political future. He rejected proposals centred on political appointments, restructuring or additional conferences if they did not address the question of self-determination.
“I will discuss referendum and nothing else,” he said, according to reports of the address.
Kanu also reportedly declared that he would not negotiate what he described as the existence of the Igbo people or accept an arrangement that excluded a referendum on Biafran sovereignty.
He presented his position as a demand for the people concerned to determine their political future through a free vote, rather than through a political settlement that leaves the question unresolved.
During the address, Kanu acknowledged the support of AVID and its members, including the organisation’s president, Dr Sylvester Onyia. He commended supporters who had followed his legal proceedings and continued to advocate for his release.
He also urged supporters of the self-determination campaign to remain committed to peaceful and lawful advocacy.
Kanu’s latest remarks come against the background of his prolonged legal battle with the Nigerian government. In November 2025, a Nigerian court convicted him on seven terrorism-related charges and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Kanu rejected the legitimacy of the proceedings, while his case has continued to attract political and legal debate.
His renewed insistence on a referendum signals that he remains opposed to any political arrangement that, in his view, fails to address Biafra’s self-determination. However, his position does not in itself establish that negotiations are underway or that the Nigerian government has agreed to a referendum.
The Nigerian government’s position on any proposed referendum and the legal implications of Kanu’s conviction remain separate issues from the statements contained in his address.
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