The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has thrown his weight behind activist Omoyele Sowore’s campaign for the release of detained Indigenous People of Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu, describing the separatist leader’s arrest as irrelevant.

Obi made the remarks on Wednesday during a visit to LEA Primary School, Kapwa, Abuja, alongside African Democratic Congress chairmanship candidate for Abuja Municipal Area Council, Dr. Moses Paul.

The former Anambra State governor reiterated his long-held position that dialogue, not detention, remains the only sustainable solution to separatist agitations.

When asked by journalists for his position on Sowore’s agitation for Kanu’s release, Obi said, “I’ve always been consistent on Nnamdi Kanu’s situation. There was no need for his arrest in the first place,” Obi said. “And I’ve always said that for me, I will consult, negotiate, and discuss with anybody who is agitating. I said it clearly and I remain there.”

Obi commended Sowore and others calling for Kanu’s release, noting that peaceful dialogue was key to resolving such crises.

“I thank those who are actually trying to do or say what we’ve been saying for a long time. Go and check what I’ve said before 2020, 2022, and even 2024. Now that it has gone to court, the rules should be followed—not just for Nnamdi Kanu, but for all agitators across the nation,” he added.

“There’s nothing wrong with anybody agitating or saying let’s have a dialogue with them. And whatever we do with them, let’s follow the rules. So, I thank the organisers and those who are involved.”