Ohanaeze Youth Council Declares Nnamdi Kanu ‘Unregistered Political Force’ in Southeast

|By Adejumo Adekunle

The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), an apex Igbo socio-cultural group, has declared that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, operates as an “unregistered political party” not recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The National President of OYC, Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, made the assertion in a statement issued on Sunday, stressing Kanu’s perceived political influence across the Southeast.

Igboayaka argued that beyond the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Kanu remains the only figure capable of commanding bloc votes among the Igbo people. He described Kanu as a dominant political force in the old Eastern region, particularly within Igboland.

According to him, pro-government groups aligned with Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including movements promoting his administration, lack the grassroots structure to mobilise voters effectively in the Southeast.

He further claimed that any re-election bid by President Tinubu would face significant resistance in the region if Kanu remains in detention, warning that such an ambition would be viewed with skepticism by many in the Southeast.

The OYC President also projected that the All Progressives Congress (APC) could struggle to secure up to five percent of votes in the Southeast during the 2027 general elections under current conditions.

Igboayaka added that political dynamics in the region may shift dramatically, cautioning that elected officials who fail to align with prevailing sentiments among the people could face rejection at the polls.

He concluded by urging political leaders to reconsider their positions, warning of what he described as a potential “ballot revolution” in the Southeast if concerns surrounding Kanu’s detention are not addressed.