Atiku Abubakar Nnamdi Kanu detention is unjust, says former VP, backing Sowore’s campaign and urging respect for court orders and the rule of law.

Atiku Abubakar Nnamdi Kanu detention has become a renewed focal point of national discourse after the former Vice President demanded the IPOB leader’s immediate release.

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Posting on his X handle on Thursday, Atiku described Kanu’s continued incarceration as “an open sore on our nation’s conscience” and a direct challenge to Nigeria’s commitment to justice and the rule of law.

“The continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu remains a stain on our belief in the rule of law,” Atiku stated. “Defying court orders that granted him bail is an abuse of power and an assault on justice.”

He further declared his full support for the campaign led by human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, which is calling for Kanu’s immediate release or proper prosecution.

Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his controversial re-arrest in Kenya in 2021.

Despite multiple court orders — including an October 2022 ruling by the Court of Appeal discharging and acquitting him — the Federal Government has refused to release him, citing ongoing charges of terrorism and treasonable felony.

Atiku’s statement follows Sowore’s open call to South-East governors, senators, and political leaders to rally around a unified date for demonstrations.

Sowore confirmed he had contacted Atiku, Peter Obi, Charles Soludo, Alex Otti, and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe in a bid to galvanise national attention around the issue.

“This is not the time for hesitation,” Sowore wrote. “Every leader of conscience must act now, not later.”

While Kanu has consistently denied all charges against him, international human rights groups and legal analysts have raised concerns over the legality of his extradition and prolonged detention without adherence to court rulings.

Atiku’s intervention has been welcomed by some as a bold show of political courage. Others view it as a strategic move in a broader campaign to reframe opposition politics ahead of 2027.

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Either way, the Atiku Abubakar Nnamdi Kanu alliance signals growing pressure on the Nigerian government to respect judicial authority — a principle increasingly seen as under threat.