IPOB disowns Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer’s statement, insists Feb 2 sit-at-home will hold

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has rejected advice by its lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, urging South-East residents to ignore the sit-at-home scheduled for Monday, February 2, 2026, declared in solidarity with traders of Onitsha Main Market.

In a statement on Saturday, IPOB spokesman Emma Powerful said Ejiofor lacks the authority to speak for the group, alleging that the lawyer had long been expelled from the organisation.

Powerful maintained that IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, remains the supreme authority and that the group operates under a clear chain of command.

The sit-at-home directive followed the Anambra State Government’s closure of Onitsha Main Market for one week over traders’ alleged defiance of the ban on Monday sit-at-home.

IPOB opposed the closure, which Governor Chukwuma Soludo enforced with heavy security presence.

Powerful clarified that the February 2 sit-at-home is a one-off action and reaffirmed IPOB’s commitment to the release of Nnamdi Kanu, insisting the directive was valid and officially issued by him as the group’s spokesman