Nnamdi Kanu — the leader of the separatist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement — has mysteriously reappeared after around 13 months of absence. He disappeared after the army and security services invaded his family home as part of the government’s alleged military exercises in the area in September 2017.

On 19 October, a live video feed of Kanu praying in Israel was posted by close associates of the IPOB leader and was soon widely shared on Twitter and other social media platforms. Even though the video’s date could not be confirmed, Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu, confirmed that it is his missing brother. He also claimed that he had contacted IPOB’s deputy director Uche Ejiofor, who also confirmed the video’s authenticity. Kanu has since made a broadcast which has circulated among his followers.

Kanu may have been deliberately released by the security services in a bid to disrupt the impact that the selection of Peter Obi — a politician from the South East state of Anambra — as the opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) vice presidential candidate would have on Igbo votes in the South East. The thinking here is that the Federal Government may have agreed a deal with Kanu that led to his release. Kanu is known to have urged Igbos to boycott all elections until a referendum is conducted on the creation of an independent Biafra state. Obi’s selection as a vice presidential candidate was meant to ensure that Igbos come out in significant numbers to vote in the 2019 election. But this would be unlikely if Kanu were to boycott the 2019 elections.

A low turnout of Igbo voters would ostensibly favour Buhari. He has his lowest approval rating in the South East, followed by the South South. The PDP is hoping to mobilise voter turnout in both regions in a bid to neutralise the major support that President Muhammadu Buhari will enjoy from the North East and North West. Kanu’s release — one way or another — looks set on disrupting the PDP game plan.

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