IPOB Denies Reports It Withdrew Call For Anambra Election Boycott

Darlington Chukwubuikem Okolie, the media aide to the Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the separatist Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), has denied claims that Mr. Kanu had withdrawn his threats to stop the governorship election scheduled to hold in Anambra State in November.

Mr. Kanu had said IPOB would call for a boycott of the election unless the Nigerian government approved a referendum to enable people in the southeastern part of Nigeria to vote on breaking away as a separate nation.

Even so, numerous media groups recently reported that the IPOB leader had a change of mind regarding the governorship election after he met with a non-governmental organization, Ala-Igbo International Foundation in Owerri, the capital city of Imo State.

The media also reported that Uzodinma Nwala, the leader of the Alaigbo Foundation, disclosed after the meeting with the IPOB leader, that negotiations with IPOB were ongoing on other matters.

Refuting the reports, Mr. Kanu’s  media aide, Mr. Chukwubuikem, affirmed that IPOB had not shifted from its initial position of boycotting the Anambra elections come November 18.

“Whoever said that [there has been a shift in IPOB’s position] is telling lies. The media in Lagos is fond of spreading falsehood about us. Nnamdi Kanu can never go back on his word. There will be no election in Anambra. There is nothing anybody can do about this. Any media that is reporting that Nnamdi Kanu has withdrawn his call to boycott Anambra elections is simply practicing false reportage,” said the IPOB leader’s media aide.

He also revealed that there would be a mass rally on Sunday, August 19, adding that Mr. Kanu would use the occasion to openly declare his staunch position that the governorship election must be boycotted.