48 hours after the much-followed trial at the Abuja high court, Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, has insisted that Nnamdi Kanu should "never have been arrested".
Obi, a 2027 presidential hopeful and member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, described the life imprisonment handed to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader as "unfortunate".
Kanu was on Thursday, November 20, convicted at the federal high court in Abuja after being found guilty on all seven counts filed against him by the Nigerian government. He was arrested in Kenya in 2021 and brought back to Nigeria under controversial circumstances.
The trial judge, James Omotosho, consequently sentenced him to life imprisonment for terrorism.
Omotosho also ordered that he be prevented from having access to mobile devices and broadcast equipment except under the watch of security operatives.
Obi reacts to Kanu’s life sentence Reacting to the judgment, Obi cautioned Nigerian authorities not to promote division with their actions.
He said in a statement he shared on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account:
"I have always maintained that Mazi Kanu should never have been arrested. His arrest, detention, and now conviction represent a failure of leadership and a misunderstanding of the issues at stake. For years, I have consistently argued that dialogue, constructive engagement, and inclusive governance offer the path to lasting peace."
Obi added:
"The concerns Kanu raised were not unheard of. The issues for which he demanded solutions were not insoluble. It only required wisdom, empathy, and a willingness to listen. In any functional society, such grievances are met with dialogue and reforms aimed at strengthening unity."
Furthermore, Obi argued that the handling of Kanu’s case "mirrors the government as a man trapped in a hole, but who, instead of looking for a way out, keeps digging deeper."
He warned:
"It worsens not only the government’s predicament but also the nation's collective condition."
Kanu’s Conviction: At a Time Like This.
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) November 22, 2025
The news of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s conviction should compel every well-meaning Nigerian to pause and reflect. This is coming at a time when our beloved nation is facing severe economic hardship, insecurity, and the consequences of poor…
Obi asked the presidency, the council of state and "credible statesmen" to push for cohesion and inclusivity by 'rising to the occasion and finding a lasting solution' to the conflicts created by the agitation for a 'Biafran' nation.
