A new declaration linked to the self-determination campaign of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is set to be unveiled on May 30, 2026, according to his legal representative, Aloy Ejimakor.
In a press statement dated May 7, Ejimakor disclosed that Kanu, alongside American attorney Mike Arnold, jointly drafted a document titled “The Sokoto Declaration.” The declaration was described as a statement of common cause aimed at promoting human rights, justice, and the principle of self-determination.
According to the statement, the document will be formally released through Biafra Radio and other digital platforms on May 30, a date widely observed by pro-Biafra supporters as Biafra Day.
Ejimakor noted that the declaration is intended to serve as “a call to all who value human rights and self-determination, and a light for the path ahead.” The announcement has since generated widespread reactions across political and social circles in Nigeria.
Promotional materials shared online by Ejimakor also carried a strong political message which read: “No one is coming to save us. Power is never given. It is built. It is taken.” The message has further intensified public discussions surrounding the forthcoming declaration and its possible political implications.
Observers have also drawn attention to the title “Sokoto Declaration,” especially as Kanu is currently being held at the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Sokoto following his conviction on terrorism-related charges.
In November 2025, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment after finding him guilty on charges connected to terrorism and activities linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
During the trial, the court relied on several video broadcasts and public statements presented by the prosecution, which allegedly showed Kanu identifying himself as the leader of both IPOB and ESN. The court also referenced the 2017 Federal High Court order that proscribed IPOB as a terrorist organisation.
Justice Omotosho ruled that anyone claiming membership of IPOB after the proscription order could be deemed to have committed a terrorist offence under Nigerian law. However, the conviction sparked renewed legal debate because of an earlier 2023 judgment by the Enugu State High Court, which reportedly nullified the proscription of IPOB.
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Despite the conviction, Kanu has continued his legal battle and has already filed an appeal challenging the judgment. Political analysts believe the upcoming Sokoto Declaration may offer insight into his current position on the Biafra agitation, self-determination, and broader human rights concerns within Nigeria.
