Abuja, Nigeria — October 13, 2025. Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has reaffirmed that the planned #FreeNnamdiKanuNow march to Aso Rock Villa will go ahead on October 20, 2025, despite ongoing consultations with political leaders and delays in the judicial process.
In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on October 12, 2025, Sowore said preparations were “in top gear” for the peaceful march, aimed at demanding the immediate release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Sowore revealed that he has been engaging senior government officials to secure a political resolution to the long-running case. He disclosed that he reached out separately to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, and the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, seeking their intervention in the matter.
According to Sowore, the Speaker acknowledged his request for the House to convene an urgent plenary session to issue a formal resolution urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release Kanu. However, the Speaker declined to take official action, citing the case’s ongoing status in court.
“He assured me that he would meet privately with some members, especially Hon. Obi Aguocha, who represents Nnamdi Kanu’s constituency, to explore a political resolution,” Sowore noted, adding that Abbas also mentioned having made “underground interventions” with the Department of State Services (DSS) in the past.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu reportedly confirmed that discussions were ongoing with President Tinubu regarding Kanu’s release but admitted that “the judicial process has been frustratingly slow.”
Sowore further stated that he has reached out to members of the Abia State House of Assembly, who had earlier declared their intention to protest in Abuja over Kanu’s continued detention, though they have yet to confirm participation in the October 20 march.
Reaffirming his commitment to the planned protest, Sowore declared:
“The October 20 date is sacrosanct. We march powerfully, resolutely, and lawfully to demand justice and freedom for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
He also disclosed that President Tinubu is expected to travel to Rome around the protest date, adding that while some observers see this as an attempt to avoid the demonstration, he remains optimistic that the President will be back in the country “to witness the will of the people in full measure.”
The #FreeNnamdiKanuNow movement continues to gather momentum among activists, civil society groups, and pro-democracy advocates who view Kanu’s prolonged detention as emblematic of wider concerns about human rights and justice in Nigeria.
TheMomentForWomen.com will continue to follow developments on the October 20 march
