Sowore Launches Nationwide Mobilisation for #FreeNnamdiKanuNow Protest

Human rights activist and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has kicked off a nationwide mobilisation campaign for the planned #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest.

Sowore, known for his outspoken activism, announced that the protest would take place on October 20, with demonstrators expected to gather in Abuja and march to the Presidential Villa (Aso Rock) to demand the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Kanu has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his arrest and repatriation from Kenya in 2021.

Despite multiple court rulings ordering his release, the Federal Government has continued to detain him, citing national security concerns.

In a mobilisation video shared on social media, Sowore appeared alongside Kanu’s lawyers, Barristers Aloy Ejimakor and Maxwell Opara, calling on Nigerians to join the peaceful protest. The video has sparked widespread debate online, with many Nigerians divided over the move.

While some praised Sowore’s courage in challenging the government to respect court orders, others expressed fears that the protest could trigger unrest if not properly managed.

The campaign follows renewed calls by political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, urging the Federal Government to release Kanu and uphold the rule of law.