Two pro-self-determination organisations have called on the Federal Government to recognise a referendum as a legitimate democratic mechanism for resolving demands for political self-determination in Nigeria.

The groups, AVID and Ambassadors for Self-Determination, also demanded the immediate release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and urged authorities to facilitate his medical evacuation, alleging that his health needs were not receiving adequate attention in detention.

The organisations made the demands in a joint statement dated October 21, 2026, signed by Dr Sylvester Onyia of AVID, Mazi Evans Nwankwo of Rising Sun and Dede Maxwell.

They questioned the continued treatment of self-determination advocacy as a criminal matter, arguing that citizens should be able to discuss and pursue their political aspirations through peaceful and democratic means.

The groups referred to developments in the United Kingdom which they said demonstrated the need for Nigeria to create a legal and constitutional framework through which questions of self-determination could be debated and, where appropriate, subjected to a referendum.

They maintained that allowing people to determine their political future through a recognised democratic process would provide a peaceful alternative to the criminalisation of such demands.

The organisations also appealed to the British government to take a more active interest in Kanu’s situation, citing his British citizenship and expressing concern over his continued detention, legal battles and alleged medical difficulties.

They accused the UK authorities of not doing enough to safeguard what they described as Kanu’s rights and called for diplomatic intervention concerning both his legal status and access to medical care.

The groups further argued that Kanu’s advocacy for a referendum should not, by itself, constitute a criminal offence.

According to the statement, Kanu’s campaign is rooted in demands for justice, equality and a more effective federal system, with the option of allowing affected communities to determine their political future if those objectives cannot be achieved within the existing Nigerian structure.

The organisations urged the Federal Government to respect Kanu’s fundamental rights and end what they described as the use of detention and intimidation against advocates of self-determination.

They argued that imprisonment would not eliminate demands for political autonomy, insisting instead that the government should consider a referendum as a democratic means of addressing the issue.

The groups also appealed to Nigerians to reject what they described as governance driven by fear and called for broader dialogue on the country’s political future.