The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has renewed its call for a referendum in Nigeria, saying citizens and the various constituent peoples of the country should be allowed to determine their preferred political future through a democratic process.
The group made the demand in a fresh statement signed by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful.
It argued that the 2027 general elections would not by themselves address what it described as longstanding constitutional and political questions confronting Nigeria.
IPOB said elections and referendums have different purposes.
While elections are primarily held to select political office holders, the group said a referendum could give citizens the opportunity to directly express their position on a specific constitutional or political question.
According to IPOB, Nigerians should be given an avenue to decide issues concerning the future structure of the country rather than having such questions determined only through periodic elections.
The group said it believed a referendum would provide a peaceful avenue for the different constituent peoples of Nigeria to state their preferences on the political future of the country.
IPOB also referred to referendum processes used in other countries, including the United Kingdom, as examples of how questions concerning political arrangements could be subjected to direct decision-making by citizens.
The group questioned why its demand for a referendum on self-determination should be treated differently from other demands for popular consultation on major political and constitutional questions.
It also cited previous comments attributed to former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan concerning the need to address some of Nigeria’s political and constitutional challenges.
The group maintained that its position should be understood as a demand for a democratic process and not as a call for violence.
IPOB said dialogue and other lawful means should be explored in addressing the question of the country’s political future.
The latest position is not the first time the organisation has called for a referendum.
IPOB has for several years linked its agitation for Biafra to a referendum, maintaining that the issue of self-determination should be decided through a peaceful process.
In October 2023, the group said it was ready to engage the Federal Government in negotiations over what it described as a peaceful exit from Nigeria through a United Nations-supervised referendum.
The group also maintained at the time that it was prepared to discuss the procedures and conditions for such a process.
IPOB also renewed its referendum demand in 2024 amid controversy over the “IgboMustGo” campaign in parts of the South-West.
The group said at the time that a referendum should be organised to allow the Igbo to determine their political future.
The organisation has consistently presented the referendum as part of its preferred route for addressing the question of Biafra.
In one of its earlier statements, IPOB said, “IPOB is ready for dialogue on Biafra referendum date and procedures.”
The group has also previously described referendum as a peaceful alternative to conflict and argued that people should be allowed to determine their political future through a democratic process.
IPOB recently issued a separate demand concerning its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, giving the Federal Government 14 days to ensure that his appeal is listed and heard.
The group warned that failure to act on the appeal could lead to a boycott of the 2027 general elections across the South-East and other areas it refers to as Biafraland.
The demand was also contained in a statement signed by Emma Powerful.
IPOB urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to consider the demand through dialogue instead of treating the issue solely as an electoral matter.
The group also called on Nigerians to engage the question through lawful democratic channels.
It stressed that the demand for a referendum was intended to create an opportunity for political consultation and allow the people concerned to express their views.
For IPOB, however, the central issue remains the demand for self-determination.
The organisation has continued to argue that the question should not be settled through ordinary elections.
It said elections do not directly ask Nigerians or any constituent group whether they wish to remain within the existing political arrangement.
The group said the process should be peaceful and should provide an opportunity for the various peoples of Nigeria to express their preferences without violence.
It also urged Nigerians to approach the matter through dialogue and other lawful democratic means.