Only Nnamdi Kanu has authority to call for Biafra referendum, IPOB declares
By Innocent Raphael
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has asserted that only its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has the authority to initiate a Biafra referendum.
The group made this declaration on Sunday, emphasizing that any future referendum will adhere to United Nations (UN) laws and the African Charter, with the date, criteria, and schedule to be publicly announced.
Emma Powerful, IPOB’s spokesman, cautioned Igbos to ignore Simon Ekpa, who claims to be the Biafra Prime Minister from Finland, as he accused Ekpa of attempting to trivialize the referendum and the secession movement by turning it into entertainment.
The statement by Powerful stated,
,”The attention of the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), led by the resolute leader Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu, has been drawn to a purported secret referendum by faceless criminals involved in kidnappings and car thefts in Alaigbo, along with their double agent in Finland. For the public record, there is no Biafra referendum at the moment. Do not fall into the Nigerian Government’s traps.”
Powerful further clarified that IPOB is the sole organization advocating for a referendum for Biafrans in Nigeria.
He stated, “Referendums are not conducted in secret. These infiltrators and their leaders in Finland aim to reduce Biafra’s struggle to an entertainment show. Biafrans must ignore these antics.”
He stressed that any legitimate referendum would be publicly announced by IPOB through Radio Biafra and other Biafran social media platforms, with Nigerian and international media also covering the event.
“The Biafra referendum date and criteria will be announced and organized in line with UN laws and the African Charter, involving transparent political processes observed and supervised by the international community.
“It’s not a clandestine affair like some are currently conducting,” Powerful stated.
Powerful reiterated IPOB’s leadership under Nnamdi Kanu, warning against participation in any unofficial referendums.
“There is no Biafra referendum for now. If you fall into the hands of Nigerian security forces in the name of an illusory referendum, do not say you were not warned,” he concluded.
