A wave of concern has swept across Abia State and the wider South-East following the decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja to sentence Indigenous People of Biafra leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment for terrorism offences.
Governor Alex Otti has responded to the ruling by announcing that he has activated an agreed political and diplomatic plan aimed at securing Kanu’s release.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgement on Thursday, 20 November 2025, bringing an end to the long-running trial that had drawn nationwide attention.
Otti said in a personal statement released through his media adviser, Ferdinand Ekeoma, that he had begun confidential talks with senior figures in the Federal Government well before the verdict.
He explained that these engagements would now be intensified since the court process had reached its conclusion.
“While Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is free to appeal his conviction, I’m happy to inform you that I have activated and will continue to work on the already agreed strategy until his freedom is secured,” the governor said.
Otti revealed that he had earlier visited Kanu at the Department of State Services, where he shared the political and diplomatic framework being negotiated with leading authorities in the country.
He criticised what he described as the Federal Government’s mishandling of the early phase of the IPOB unrest.
The governor argued that the failure to address the grievances promptly allowed the situation to worsen and take its present form.
He insisted that sustained dialogue remained the most realistic route to peace in the region.
“The poor management of the IPOB issue at the incubation stage created the problem we have today; hence, we cannot allow it to linger and create a bigger monstrous situation for us,” Otti said.
Otti urged political actors to refrain from using Kanu’s legal troubles to score political points.
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He appealed to residents of Abia and the entire South-East to maintain calm and avoid provocative statements while supporting the ongoing diplomatic effort.
The governor recalled that he has consistently advocated for dialogue, referencing his criticism in 2017 of the military operation that targeted Kanu’s residence during “Operation Python Dance.”
He said discussions held with federal authorities since December 2023 resulted in preliminary agreements that were dependent on the swift completion of Kanu’s trial.
Otti expressed confidence that these agreements would now be pursued to conclusion.
“I have no doubt that with the assurances I have received from the Federal Government, a resolution is in sight and Mazi Kanu will receive his freedom,” he said.
The governor reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing negotiations aimed at restoring lasting stability to the South-East.
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