Date: October 16, 2025
Issued by: Comrade Emma Powerful, Spokesperson / Media and Publicity Secretary for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has exposed what it calls a coordinated propaganda network set up by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, to mislead the public and sow division among the Igbo people.
This follows a report published by Daily Post Nigeria, quoting a purported “Ohanaeze Ndigbo faction” said to have rejected the upcoming nationwide peaceful protest championed by Omoyele Sowore and other activists calling for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
According to IPOB, the so-called faction is a phantom creation orchestrated by Umahi and falsely attributed to Okechukwu Isiguzoro, a man currently hospitalised in India and incapable of making any public statement.
The Umahi–Isiguzoro Conspiracy
IPOB said that this latest media stunt is part of Umahi’s larger agenda to discredit genuine Igbo voices and weaken the growing solidarity demanding Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s freedom.
“Let the world be informed that there is only one legitimate Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, under the leadership of Senator Mbata,” IPOB stated.
“The impostor faction being promoted by Umahi is nothing but a political instrument designed to divide and confuse the Igbo nation.”
The group further clarified that Isiguzoro is not in Nigeria and has not made any statement since being admitted to a hospital in India. The claim that he spoke on behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is, according to IPOB, “a complete fabrication by Umahi’s propaganda team.”
“Umahi has reduced politics to a game of deception,” IPOB declared. “By using the name of a bedridden man to issue political statements, he has demonstrated utter contempt for the truth and for the Igbo people.”
A Familiar Propaganda Tactic
The group likened Umahi’s current strategy to previous attempts by state-sponsored agents to destabilise the Biafra movement.
“This is the same method used with Simon Ekpa — a diversionary tool planted to sow confusion and weaken the Biafra restoration struggle,” IPOB explained.
“Today, the same forces are using a fake Ohanaeze wing as a propaganda outfit to attack a peaceful, legitimate movement.”
The statement added that the government’s effort to manipulate Igbo institutions only confirms their fear of growing unity among Nigerians who oppose injustice.
Message to Political Collaborators
Comrade Emma Powerful issued a stern warning to those aiding and abetting what he called “the politics of betrayal.”
“Dave Umahi and his collaborators may enjoy temporary power, but they do not control the destiny of the Igbo people,” he said.
“No self-respecting Igbo man or woman will oppose a peaceful march calling for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who has been illegally detained for years despite multiple court orders.”
He added that any Igbo politician attempting to sabotage this cause “has traded his honour and ancestry for crumbs of political favour.”
A Call for Vigilance and Unity
IPOB urged all Igbos worldwide — from the homeland to the diaspora — to remain vigilant and reject attempts by political actors to divide their ranks through fake media reports and planted spokespersons.
The group described the #FreeMaziNnamdiKanuNow movement as a peaceful campaign for justice, truth, and human rights, not an act of rebellion or confrontation.
“This movement is a statement of conscience,” IPOB said. “It is a moral stand against injustice, tyranny, and hypocrisy that have become hallmarks of governance in Nigeria.”
Endorsement of the Peaceful Protest
Reaffirming its support for the nationwide protest, IPOB stated that it stands in alliance with the Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Global Defence Consortium, Ohanaeze under Senator Mbata, and respected Igbo leaders who believe in dialogue, justice, and nonviolence.
“Those impersonating Ohanaeze Ndigbo for selfish gain are nothing more than modern-day warrant chiefs — stooges of a corrupt system that thrives on division,” the statement read.
Conclusion
The movement concluded that Umahi’s political manipulation and falsehoods have failed, as the truth continues to resonate among the Igbo people and the international community.
“The lies of the fake Ohanaeze syndicate have crumbled,” IPOB asserted. “The Igbo nation is awake, united, and determined. No amount of deceit or propaganda will suppress the demand for justice and freedom.”
Signed:
Comrade Emma Powerful
Spokesperson / Media and Publicity Secretary, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)
