Nnamdi Kanu Rejects Negotiation Without Biafra Independence Referendum, Says There Is “No Middle Ground”
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has made his position clear on any possible political negotiation concerning the Biafran question, saying he will not accept an arrangement that does not include a referendum on Biafra’s independence.
Kanu made the declaration in an address to the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) during the organisation’s 2026 annual convention in Duluth, Georgia, United States.
The convention was held from October 9 to 11, 2026, under the theme “Maka Odi Nma Ndi Igbo,” meaning “For the good and benefit of the Igbo people.” AVID’s official programme confirms that the event took place in Duluth and included discussions, cultural activities and a visit to the historic Igbo Landing site in Georgia.
According to a report published by Sahara Reporters on October 11, Kanu told the gathering that a referendum must remain at the centre of any discussion concerning the political future of the people he represents.
Kanu: Referendum or Biafran sovereignty
Kanu reportedly rejected the idea of entering into negotiations that would focus only on political appointments, restructuring or another political conference.
Instead, he said the central issue should be whether the people of Biafra should be given the opportunity to decide their future through a free vote.
In his address, Kanu stated:
> “Referendum, or the unilateral pursuit of Biafran sovereignty. There is no middle ground.”
He further said he would not negotiate what he described as the existence and future of his people.
His reported position is that the people should have the opportunity to decide, through a referendum, whether they want to remain within Nigeria or pursue an independent Biafran state.
This position is important because it shows that Kanu is not presenting restructuring or political appointments as substitutes for the referendum he is demanding.
What exactly is Kanu rejecting?
The headline that Kanu has “rejected any negotiation” could easily be misunderstood.
The more precise meaning of his statement is that he is rejecting negotiations that do not include a referendum on Biafra's sovereignty.
In his address, Kanu reportedly dismissed proposals centred on political positions, restructuring or another conference, arguing that such arrangements would not resolve what he considers the fundamental political question.
He said:
> “I will not negotiate the existence of my people. I will not bargain our homeland into a committee. I will discuss the referendum and nothing else.”
He also reportedly said that he remained available for discussions about a referendum and the right of people to determine their political future through a free vote.
His demand for self-determination
The question of self-determination has remained at the heart of the Biafran movement for years.
Kanu has continued to argue that the people of the South-East and other areas associated with the Biafran movement should have a democratic opportunity to decide their future.
In his latest address, he described his objective as a peaceful homeland where Biafrans could live under their own laws.
He stressed that, in his view, the campaign was not about revenge or creating disorder.
He described his vision as “not a slogan” but a country, while presenting safety and order as important parts of his political objective.
His latest remarks therefore place the referendum question ahead of other political proposals that could be offered as a possible solution to the long-running agitation.
Kanu speaks from detention
Kanu delivered the address while in detention in Nigeria.
Sahara Reporters reported that he is currently serving a life imprisonment sentence in Sokoto. Another Nigerian publication, The Whistler, also reported on his address to the American Veterans of Igbo Descent.
Despite his imprisonment, Kanu told the gathering that his detention had not changed his position.
He reportedly said that he had spent years in detention pursuing what he described as the goal of a peaceful Biafran homeland.
He also urged supporters of the Biafran cause not to abandon their campaign for his release or the release of other people whom he described as being unjustly detained.
Praise for American Veterans of Igbo Descent
During the address, Kanu praised AVID for its continued support and advocacy.
He specifically acknowledged the organisation's president, Dr Sylvester Onyia, for what he described as repeated efforts to support him during his detention.
According to the report, Kanu said Onyia travelled to Abuja to attend court proceedings and also visited him in hospital.
He encouraged AVID and other organisations supporting the Biafran cause to continue their advocacy.
Kanu also mentioned groups including Rising Sun and Ambassadors for Self-Determination, describing them as important supporters of his welfare and the wider movement.
His message to supporters
Kanu also called on supporters to remain united and disciplined.
He alleged that the Nigerian government had interfered with the internal structure of IPOB and claimed that this had created divisions within the movement.
He said what he described as the organisation's Third Administration of the Directorate of State had been penetrated and subsequently dissolved.
These are Kanu's allegations, rather than independently established facts, and should be understood in that context.
He praised AVID for remaining supportive of his leadership during the disagreements and urged the organisation to continue its advocacy.
Kanu's criticism of his legal case
Another major part of the address concerned Kanu's long-running legal battle with the Nigerian government.
Kanu again alleged that he was unlawfully abducted in Kenya and transferred to Nigeria.
He also criticised the handling of his prosecution and argued that his conviction was unjust.
These claims represent Kanu's position on his legal case and have been strongly contested in the broader dispute surrounding his prosecution.
His latest comments show that his detention has not caused him to abandon the political objective he has publicly promoted for years.
Instead, he used the opportunity to tell supporters that the demand for a referendum remains central to his position.
Why the referendum demand matters
A referendum would be significantly different from ordinary political negotiations.
Under Kanu's proposal, the people themselves would be given the opportunity to vote on the political future of the territory concerned.
That makes the demand considerably broader than asking the Federal Government for additional political appointments, development programmes or constitutional restructuring.
Kanu's latest statement suggests that he does not regard those measures as an alternative to a referendum.
His reported position is that the people should be allowed to make the final decision.
A recent statement attributed to IPOB also said that the political future of Biafrans should ultimately be determined by Biafrans through a free, fair and internationally credible democratic process, with the organisation referring to a UN-supervised referendum.
Igbo Landing and the message of freedom
Kanu also used the historic Igbo Landing in Georgia as part of his message to AVID members.
Igbo Landing is associated with an 1803 incident involving enslaved Igbo people who resisted enslavement after being transported to the United States.
AVID's official 2026 conference programme included a visit to the historic site on October 11. The organisation describes Igbo Landing as a symbol of resistance, courage and the determination of the Igbo people.
Kanu told the veterans that the history of the site should serve as a reminder of the importance of freedom and self-determination.
He encouraged them to continue using lawful and peaceful advocacy to draw international attention to the Biafran question and his detention.
What happens next?
Kanu's latest statement is likely to generate further discussion in Nigeria, particularly in the South-East, where the Biafran question remains politically and emotionally sensitive.
For the Nigerian government, any discussion surrounding Biafra independence remains a highly sensitive national issue.
For Kanu and his supporters, however, the latest message is straightforward: a political arrangement that does not allow the people to vote on their future will not satisfy their demand.
His statement therefore leaves little room for interpreting his current position as a willingness to accept ordinary political concessions in place of a referendum.
At the same time, the statement does not mean that every possible form of dialogue has been rejected. Rather, Kanu has drawn a clear line around the subject of negotiation: he says a referendum must be part of the discussion.
As Nigeria continues to face debates over restructuring, regional autonomy, security and national unity, Kanu's renewed demand places the Biafran question back into public discussion.
For now, his position remains that the future of the people he represents should ultimately be determined through a democratic vote.
“Referendum, or the unilateral pursuit of Biafran sovereignty. There is no middle ground,” he said in the address.
Source: Sahara Reporters, AVID official conference information, and additional Nigerian reporting.
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