No listing, no participation: IPOB declares boycott of APC over ‘judicial cowardice’
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has called for “a total and permanent” political boycott of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by its members and supporters nationwide .
“Our position is unequivocal: we will not lend our participation, support, or political legitimacy to a party whose government fears facing our leader’s appeal,” the pro-Biafra self-determination group said in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful.
“Let the APC and the world understand the singular reason for this decision: the government moved swiftly to secure a conviction under a repealed statute, yet when faced with our leader’s appeal against the 20 November 2025 judgment, the regime retreats. Rather than facing judicial scrutiny before the Court of Appeal, the state has deliberately left the case unlisted.”
According to the IPOB, any regime is preferable to the APC.
The group argued that under any other administration, the judiciary would at least be free to list and hear all pending legal cases according to the rule of law, “rather than being subverted into an instrument of executive terror.”
The imprisoned Nnamdi Kanu-led pro-Biafra resuscitation group stressed that it had been compelled to issue the boycott directive for several reasons.
- For ‘evading’ the Court of Appeal, as the appeal challenging Mazi Kanu’s conviction “remains deliberately unlisted, with the government failing to file its Respondent’s Brief.”
“His appeal raises fundamental constitutional questions under Section 36 (12) regarding conviction on non-extant laws. They must face the court, not hide behind procedural delay,” IPOB restated, noting that “the reported declaration that the case file regarding Onyendu’s 14-month unlawful detention without trial—following his discharge by the Court of Appeal on 13 October 2022—went ‘missing’ at the FCT High Court is a transparent effort to frustrate fundamental rights enforcement.”
The self-determination group condemned what it described as “systemic double standards,” deploring “the continuous military operations, mass arrests, and detentions at Wawa Barracks and Tiger Base targeting peaceful Biafrans while violent, armed bandits across other regions operate unhindered.”
2) The group said the boycott directive also came as part of its avowed determination to “reject political errand boys”.
IPOB recalled “Dave Umahi’s betrayal” whereby in September 2017, he led the South-East Governors’ Forum “to ban IPOB out of envy over Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s massive popularity.”
“That move provided the green light for military crackdowns and heavy casualties across Igboland. Though the Enugu State High Court declared that regional ban unconstitutional on 26 October 2023, the blood on Umahi’s hands remains,” IPOB charged.
It warned “proxies” of imminent downfall, stating that “politicians aligning with the ruling regime will be discarded once their usefulness ends.”
“Rochas Okorocha’s political humiliation by the APC stands as a warning to Charles Soludo and others who trade our people’s dignity for political crumbs,” IPOB warned.
3) To that end, IPOB said it had ordered “total civic disengagement” by all Biafrans from “voluntary political support for the APC” by boycotting its rallies, refusing its insignia and denying it community legitimacy.
The group, however, warned that every civic disengagement “must remain non-violent.”
“No ordinary citizen should be harassed or threatened over political affiliations,” the group stressed..
“Our demand is simple: let the government list the appeal and let the law speak.”
“Our stance remains that once there is no listing there will be no participation,” IPOB emphasized. Release Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu immediately and unconditionally. List the appeal. Restore the missing court file. Let the law speak.”
