APP candidate Ijioma says he will pursue Nnamdi Kanu’s release, improve roads and hold direct talks with Abia residents if elected governor in 2027
The 2027 governorship race in Abia State is set to take another dimension as the Action People’s Party (APP) candidate, Gen. Ijioma Nwokoro Ijioma (retd.), has placed the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu among the issues he intends to address if elected.
Ijioma said he would pursue the release of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader through lawful channels, insisting that Kanu’s status as an Abia citizen gives the state government a responsibility to take an interest in his situation.
The former Director of Military Operations in the Northeast disclosed his position during a media briefing in Umuahia, where he also outlined some of the issues expected to feature prominently in his campaign ahead of the 2027 election.
Rather than treating Kanu’s case as a purely political disagreement, Ijioma said he considered it an issue involving justice, individual freedom and the rule of law.
He argued that the government of Abia should not remain passive when one of its citizens is involved in a prolonged legal dispute with the Federal Government.
“If I become the governor of Abia State, I will compel the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu,” Ijioma said.
He explained that his administration would be prepared to dedicate the necessary time and resources to pursuing the matter, adding that every legitimate avenue would be considered.
According to him, such efforts would include legal proceedings, political engagement and consultations with relevant groups and individuals capable of contributing to a resolution.
Ijioma was particularly emphatic that Kanu’s detention would remain an issue for his administration if he wins the election.
He said: “Nnamdi Kanu will not remain in prison with me as governor of Abia State.”
The APP candidate said his position was based primarily on Kanu’s citizenship of Abia rather than on political considerations.
He maintained that the state government should be willing to defend the rights of its residents whenever it believes those rights are being threatened.
“I will not allow the Federal Government to toy with the liberty of anybody from Abia State,” he stated, adding that his position would extend beyond Kanu to other Abia residents facing similar circumstances.
The retired general also criticised what he described as the manner in which Kanu has been treated by the Federal Government.
Ijioma alleged that the handling of the IPOB leader’s case amounted to unfair treatment of the Igbo and said the matter should receive greater public scrutiny.
His comments come several years after he said he had attempted to get the former Abia State administration involved in efforts to resolve the situation.
According to him, during the tenure of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, he presented suggestions on how the state could engage the Federal Government over Kanu’s detention and seek a possible resolution.
Ijioma further questioned why individuals associated with different separatist or insurgent causes had, in his view, received different treatment from the authorities.
He mentioned Sunday Igboho, an advocate of a Yoruba nation, and individuals linked to Boko Haram who were captured by security agencies and subsequently released.
The APP candidate argued that such comparisons deserved closer examination, particularly in relation to the principles guiding the Federal Government’s decisions in cases involving separatist movements.
He also challenged Nigerian journalists to play a stronger role in investigating and questioning government actions.
Describing the media as the fourth estate of the realm, Ijioma urged journalists not to remain silent when they encounter issues they believe require public accountability.
He said the media should subject official decisions to deeper interrogation rather than simply reporting them without scrutiny.
While his position on Kanu is likely to attract attention during the campaign, Ijioma also used the briefing to present himself as a candidate with a broader development agenda for Abia.
He disclosed that his campaign team had prepared a 23-point manifesto containing his proposed policies for the state.
Ijioma described the document as a “compact with Abia people”, suggesting that it would serve as a framework for the relationship between his administration and residents if he secures the governorship mandate.
A major part of his proposed leadership style, he said, would be accessibility.
The former military officer promised to create a direct communication channel through which residents could contact the governor and express their concerns.
He said such access would not be restricted to influential individuals or people occupying important positions in society.
“If a mechanic calls me, I will answer,” he said, stressing that ordinary residents would also have the opportunity to question his policies.
Ijioma said he would accept criticism and provide explanations whenever residents demanded clarification about decisions taken by his government.
He described the office of governor as a position of service rather than personal authority, reminding political office holders that their mandate comes from the electorate.
“The governor is the servant of the people, not their boss. If they didn’t elect you, you wouldn’t be governor,” he said.
On the performance of the incumbent administration, Ijioma expressed confidence that he would deliver more if given the opportunity to govern Abia.
He said residents who believe Governor Alex Otti has performed well should expect a stronger performance from him if he takes over in 2027.
“I will outperform Otti when I’m elected,” he declared.
Ijioma identified road construction as one of the areas where he intends to make a major impact, while also promising improvements across other sectors of the state’s economy and public infrastructure.
“I will outperform him in the construction of roads. I will outperform him in every parameter and in every sector,” he said.
With the 2027 election drawing closer, Ijioma’s campaign is expected to combine political and developmental issues, including his position on Kanu’s detention, infrastructure, public accountability and direct engagement with citizens.
His declaration also places the Kanu issue firmly within the political conversation in Abia ahead of the governorship contest, as candidates seek to distinguish their positions on matters likely to influence voters across the state.