The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has vowed to take disciplinary action on members that undermine the authority of its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
This comes amid efforts to resolve a growing leadership dispute within the organisation.
In a statement issued by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group warned that any member or faction acting contrary to Kanu’s directives or the organisation’s Code of Conduct would face sanctions, including suspension, removal from office and expulsion.
The warning follows a deepening rift within the movement after the dissolution of the third administration of IPOB’s Directorate of State, led by Chika Edoziem, and the inauguration of a new leadership headed by US-based Chris Nwaọgụ.
According to IPOB, Kanu exercised powers conferred on him by the organisation’s Code of Conduct to dissolve Edoziem’s administration and appoint a fourth Directorate of State.
The group maintained that Kanu remains the only person vested with the authority to appoint, suspend or dismiss principal officers within the organisation.
“Any individual or group that persists in defying the lawful authority of the Supreme Leader, undermining the command-and-control structure of IPOB, or acting contrary to the Code of Conduct shall face severe disciplinary measures, including suspension, removal from office, and expulsion from the movement,” the statement read.
It added, “The era of indiscipline, constitutional recklessness, and unauthorised power-grabbing within IPOB is over. The authority of the Supreme Leader remains supreme, unquestionable, and binding on all members.”
