Nnamdi Kanu declares his hand asking Ipob members to vote against Buhari calling the APC a Nazi party

INDIGENOUS People of Biafra (Ipob) leader Nnamdi Kanu has finally urged his supporters to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in today's election saying a vote for President Muhammadu Buhari would be akin to voting for the Nazi party.

Since President Buhari assumed office, Ipob and other secessionist groups have stepped up their campaign to recreate Biafra, the breakaway republic that existed briefly between July 1967 and January 1970 during the Nigerian Civil War. They claim that the current administration has marginalised Ndigbo in terms of appointments and the provision of infrastructure, so want to create their own sovereign nation of Igbos.

Up until earlier this month, Ipob had urged it members to boycott Nigeria's forthcoming elections, saying it would only allow the polls to go ahead in Igboland if there was a referendum on the vexed issue of allowing Biafra to secede from Nigeria. However, the organisation has been under pressure to recount this stance as Igbo leaders have pointed out that a boycott will not serve any useful purpose.

Last week, Mr Kanu bowed to pressure and announced that he was calling off the election boycott after meeting and discussing with numerous stakeholders. According to Mr Kanu, Ipob had got assurances that its conditions had been met, so he urged all the association's members to now participate in the polls.

Yesterday, Mr Kanu revealed how he wanted Ipob followers to vote, warning Biafrans against voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in today’s presidential elections. He warned that voting for APC will be like voting for a Nazi Party, adding that members of the ruling party are evil, hence must be voted out.

Mr Kanu said: “As the zoo is planning to vote we are here to guide you, so listen to what I have to say because the enemies are coming looking for an excuse to launch their jihad. One thing is clear about the choice that confronts our people, I declare that we are sending a message to the caliphate of the zoo republic that our people are not voting for a Fulani man that killed us during the war.

“In case you do not know the killing of our people started in 1945 till now, so voting for APC is like asking to vote for the Nazi Party. For some reason, some Igbo leaders have chosen to ignore Buhari from Sudan's war by campaigning for Buhari.

“In as much as I have no desire to have our people participate in this sham of an election, if APC gets up to 100 votes I know our people are not serious. I want the cabal in the north to understand that the killing of unarmed innocent lives must be punished, so everybody must make sure you protest against APC.

“As you go out today stay safe as the APC has no stake in the lives of our people, its members are evil. We are against everything APC has done in the land, so you must protest against APC by showing a complete rejection of the party and everything it represents.

“Send them a clear message that our land is not for APC. Today is a clear opportunity to deliver that message that we are against everything that APC represents."

Mr Kanu has pledged to return to Nigeria soon, although it is not yet clear if he intends to do so before or after the election process ends. A big critic of President Buhari, it is thought that Mr Kanu will be hoping that former vice president Alhaji Abubakar wins the presidential elections and may enter into an accommodation with him.