IPOB Suspends Nnamdi Kanu's Office, Takes Over Leadership Structure

IPOB Suspends Nnamdi Kanu’s Office, Takes Over Leadership Structure
Directorate of State said it will oversee all group affairs.
Reports indicate Kanu recently appointed a new DOS leadership.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced the suspension of the Office of its Leader, held by Nnamdi Kanu, as well as the position of Director of Radio Biafra, in a move that signals a major shift in the group’s leadership structure.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the decision was reached during a full meeting of the group’s Directorate of State (DOS) on Wednesday and was made public in a statement issued on Thursday by the Head of the Directorate of State, Mazi Chikadibia Edoziem.

According to the statement, the Directorate of State will now assume full responsibility for administering the affairs of the organisation and overseeing its activities.

IPOB maintained that the movement was founded and developed collectively by Biafrans in the Diaspora and not by any single individual. The group stressed that no individual possesses the authority to dissolve the Directorate of State, which it described as the highest leadership body within the organisation.

The group said the decision followed a review of intelligence reports regarding communications allegedly originating from Kanu while in detention at the correctional facility in Sokoto.

According to the statement, certain communications linked to Kanu had allegedly contributed to arrests and deaths involving members of the organisation in the South East.

IPOB further alleged that Kanu’s visitors and activities were under close surveillance by the Department of State Services (DSS), raising concerns about the security implications of information leaving the detention facility.

The organisation also warned against attempts by individuals to establish a new militia group, saying such actions could fuel instability and violence in the region.

It stated that the suspension was intended to prevent what it described as reckless assumptions of authority and unguarded statements that could expose supporters to arrests, torture and loss of life.

IPOB added that it would no longer accept responsibility for criminal acts committed by individuals or groups operating in the name of the suspended offices.

IPOB Suspends Nnamdi Kanu's Office, Takes Over Leadership Structure — IPOB Suspends Nnamdi Kanu’s Office, Takes Over Leadership Structure

The development comes amid reports that Kanu had dissolved the third administration of the Directorate of State and inaugurated a fourth leadership structure. Reports also indicated that he appointed United States-based Mazi Chris Nwaọgụ as the new Head of the Directorate of State, with responsibility for coordinating and managing the organisation’s affairs.

The Directorate of State was established in 2012 as IPOB’s administrative arm and has previously been led by Dr Justin Akujieze, Mazi Uchenna Asiegbu and Chika Edoziem.