By Charles Pemu 
Activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has announced October 20 as the date for a major protest march to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, demanding the immediate release of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Sowore disclosed the fixed date on his X handle on Thursday, describing the demonstration as a “historic” and peaceful march to the Aso Rock Villa, scheduled to begin at 7 a.m.
The activist also renewed his fierce challenge to prominent South-East political figures to move beyond “empty noise” and join the physical demonstration.
Challenge to South-East Governors and Leaders
In a pointed call for solidarity, Sowore specifically challenged Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti; Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; and the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to attend.
“No more empty noise. Let @CCSoludo, @SenatorAbaribe, @alexottiofr, @PeterObi, and all others who claim to care step up and join us in person,” he wrote on social media. “Every governor, senator, member of the House, traditional ruler, priest, eze, Igbo person, and every Nigerian who believes in Kanu’s freedom should come out and do more than talk.”
Sowore noted that his direct attempts to contact Governors Otti and Soludo were unsuccessful, with neither taking his calls nor responding to his messages. He also stated that Peter Obi was reportedly travelling, while Senator Abaribe had promised to return his call.
He also mentioned that a delegation from the Abia State House of Assembly, which plans a separate visit to the Attorney General of the Federation, did not anticipate a “placard” protest, but he stressed that a unified date for action was paramount.
Kanu’s Prolonged Detention
The call for protest highlights the Federal Government’s continued detention of Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his controversial re-arrest and extradition from Kenya in 2021.
Despite multiple court rulings, including an appellate court judgment that discharged and acquitted him in October 2022, the government has refused to release the IPOB leader. Kanu currently faces charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, and incitement at the Federal High Court in Abuja.