Former presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, has alleged that the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu is tied to his refusal to accept certain conditions reportedly presented by the Nigerian government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Sowore made the claim on March 16, 2026, drawing a sharp contrast between Kanu and Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho. According to him, while Kanu rejected the alleged terms, Igboho accepted similar conditions, which influenced their current circumstances.

“Nnamdi Kanu is in jail today because he’s different from Sunday Igboho. If Kanu were like Sunday Igboho, he would be campaigning for President Tinubu in the Southeast now. Because it’s the same terms they gave to Igboho that he accepted and Kanu rejected over the last 10 years,” Sowore said.

He further referenced a recent visit to Aba, noting that his interaction with Kanu underscored a clear ideological distinction between the two figures.

“I don’t know what he will do tomorrow, but the Kanu I went to campaign for in Aba last week, it would be heresy to compare the two of them,” he added.

Sowore also criticised Igboho’s political stance, describing it as transactional. He characterised it as “Amala politics” or “chop I chop,” suggesting opportunistic engagement with political power.

He warned that such actions could negatively impact Igboho’s legacy.

“What Igboho is going to realize is that he’s going to be in the hall of infamy like the Nzeribes of this world… If he was ever relevant, Igboho just retired himself into infamy, and his own might be worse because the international community might be coming for him very soon.”

Details of the alleged conditions offered by the government were not disclosed.

Nnamdi Kanu has remained in detention since his re-arrest in 2021 and is facing charges including terrorism and treasonable felony. His case continues to generate significant debate, particularly across Nigeria’s Southeast region.

In contrast, Sunday Igboho, who previously faced similar confrontations with authorities, has recently been seen aligning with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and expressing support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the Presidency. Kanu’s legal team has also not commented on the latest claims, while Igboho has yet to publicly react.