Spokesman of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Emma Powerful, has reacted to the group’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor’s advise to residents of the South-East to ignore the Monday, February 2, 2026 sit-at-home declared by the group in solidarity with traders of Onitsha Main Market.
Onitsha Main Market was closed for a week by Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, following the traders’ non-compliance with his ban on the observance of the Monday sit-at-home in the state.
IPOB kicked against the development and told the traders to open their shops regardless of the governor’s order. But Soludo enforced the closure by deploying armoured tanks and heavily armed security agents to the market.
In response to the development, IPOB, in a statement by spokesman, Emma Powerful, ordered a sit-at-home across the South-East on Monday, February 2, to show solidarity with the Onitsha Main Market traders.
However, IPOB lawyer, Ejiofor, issued a statement to counter the directive, noting that the group had since jettisoned sit-at-home in the South-East. Ejiofor also questioned Powerful’s role in the organization, alleging that he has been compromised.
Reacting to Ejiofor’s statement on Saturday, Powerful said a non-member cannot speak for the group. Powerful also alleged that Ejiofor had been expelled from IPOB before now.
Stressing that IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu is the ultimate authority in the organization, Powerful explained that he (Kanu) established a chain of command in the organization which cannot be challenged.
Powerful said, “The chain of command in IPOB is not a recent invention. It is as old as the movement itself. A sacked lawyer and non member of IPOB cannot speak for the movement.
“Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu deliberately created structured departments to manage the affairs of IPOB in moments exactly like this. His word is final. What he says is law within IPOB. Anyone struggling with this basic fact is either new to the struggle or fundamentally undisciplined.
“The Directorate of Media & Publicity predates all Directorates except IT headed by Mazi Ofoma and Finance still headed by Madam Nnennaya Anya. If you do not understand this, then you lack historical grounding in IPOB. No newspaper, media house, or international platform publishes anything concerning IPOB without passing through the office of the Spokesperson. That is not arrogance; that is structure.”
Continuing, Powerful spelt out the role of IPOB spokesman. “As Spokesperson of IPOB, my duty is simple and clear: To communicate to the world the direction set by our leader. To help secure the release of our leader while keeping the movement resolute, disciplined, and uncontaminated in the collective effort to restore Biafra.
“IPOB is led by Onyendu as long as he lives. He appointed members of the Directorate of State (DOS) while in DSS custody, acting through his now sacked lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who has absolutely nothing to do with Onyendu nor IPOB led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. A sacked lawyer and non-member of IPOB cannot speak for the movement.
“If Onyendu could appoint officers and debrief lawyers from detention, it means his directives are supreme and not subject to debate or query. He made this position clear to Asia Rep that visited him last week on behalf of DOS. So there is no confusion whatsoever.
“Only one person appoints or removes anyone in IPOB — our leader. No committee, no platform, no noise on social media alters this reality.”
The IPOB spokesman clarified that the February 2 sit-at-home is a one off event.
He also vowed that the movement cannot abandon Kanu, and would continue to fight for his freedom.
“The sit-at-home scheduled for Monday, February 2, is a one-off action in direct response to Governor Soludo’s reckless intimidation of our people for showing solidarity with Onyendu. It is not open to speculation, reinterpretation, or distortion.
“Let it also be clearly understood that those claiming to be from DOS that held a secret meeting with representatives of Governor Soludo on Thursday, claiming to speak in the name of our leader and allegedly assuring him that IPOB would not oppose the intimidation and humiliation of our businessmen and women at Onitsha Main Market, are gravely mistaken. They neither represent Onyendu nor understand him. Our leader has always stood—and will always stand—with the oppressed masses, not with their tormentors. No private meeting, inducement, or cowardly compromise can rewrite that truth.
“Anyone genuinely confused should go to Sokoto and seek clarification from our leader—not engage in idle gossip or internal sabotage online.
“Those hoping we will forget Onyendu and start chasing shadows are deluding themselves. He founded IPOB. He called us into this struggle. We remain bound to his vision and his instructions. If you are unwilling to follow what Onyendu wants, then form your own group and stop yapping on social media under the IPOB name.
“For the avoidance of doubt: The press statement concerning Monday’s sit-at-home was issued by me and by nobody else,” the IPOB spokesman added.
