The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has ruled out political negotiations that do not include a referendum on Biafran independence, insisting that the people must be allowed to decide their political future through a free vote.
Kanu made his position known in an address to the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) during its annual convention held in Duluth, Georgia, United States, from October 9 to 11, 2026.
In the address, dated September 30, Kanu rejected proposals centred on political appointments, restructuring or fresh conferences if they failed to address the question of Biafran sovereignty.
“Referendum, or the unilateral pursuit of Biafran sovereignty. There is no middle ground,” he declared.
The IPOB leader maintained that he would not bargain away what he described as the rights and future of his people, stressing that a referendum remained the only acceptable subject of discussion.
“I will not negotiate the existence of my people. I will not bargain our homeland into a committee. I will discuss referendum and nothing else,” he said.
Kanu also dismissed political arrangements that, in his view, would leave the central issue unresolved. He argued that the people concerned should have the opportunity to vote freely on whether they want an independent Biafran state.
Reflecting on his prolonged detention, he said his commitment to the cause had not weakened, describing his ultimate objective as the establishment of what he called a peaceful Biafran homeland.
He insisted that his campaign was not about revenge or disorder but about creating a country governed by its own laws.
Kanu also criticised the legal process that led to his conviction, alleging that his case had been handled unjustly. His claims about the proceedings and his transfer from Kenya to Nigeria remain part of the wider controversy surrounding his case.
During the address, he praised AVID and its president, Dr Sylvester Onyia, for their continued support and efforts to draw international attention to his detention. He urged the organisation and other diaspora groups to sustain their advocacy for his release and that of others he described as unjustly detained.
Kanu further invoked the history of Igbo Landing in Georgia, urging members of the organisation to reflect on its significance in discussions about freedom and self-determination.
He concluded by reiterating that he would not accept any political settlement that excluded a referendum on Biafran independence.
“I am not available for any bargain that leaves Biafra unnamed. I am available for a referendum,” he stated.
