The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called for a referendum on Nigeria’s political future, arguing that another presidential election in 2027 would not resolve what it described as the country’s “foundational” political questions.

IPOB made the demand in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, in which the group said the people of Nigeria’s constituent communities should be allowed to determine whether they want to remain together under a new constitution, adopt a federal or confederal arrangement, or pursue other political options.

“For IPOB, the issue is not whether Nigerians should choose between Atiku Abubakar, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Peter Obi or any other politician,” Powerful said.

“The deeper question is: who gave the constituent peoples of Nigeria the chance to decide whether they still want this political arrangement at all?”

The group said referendum and self-determination remained central to its position, arguing that elections and referendums address different questions.

“The ballot can decide who governs. A referendum can decide the more critical question of what arrangement the people consent to live under. Those are different questions,” it said.

IPOB argued that repeated presidential elections had not resolved Nigeria’s political and constitutional challenges.

“Endless presidential elections cannot, by themselves, resolve Nigeria’s foundational political questions,” the statement said.

The group also cited recent developments in the United Kingdom to argue that referendums and demands for self-determination could form part of democratic constitutional debates.

It referenced a September 14, 2026 meeting in Cardiff where leaders of Plaid Cymru, the Scottish National Party and Sinn Féin signed a memorandum reaffirming what they described as the right of their nations to determine their own futures through democratic means.

The memorandum called for the British Government to “prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change in each jurisdiction.”

IPOB said the development raised questions about how demands for self-determination should be treated in Nigeria.

“If the leaders of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland can sign a memorandum demanding referendum… why must the demand of Biafrans be treated as a crime?” the group asked.

It also cited a recent vote in the English village of Piddington, which it said demonstrated the broader use of local democratic processes to express views on constitutional questions.

IPOB Cites Obasanjo, Jonathan

The group further referred to comments by former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi.

Obasanjo questioned the suitability of the Western liberal democratic model inherited by African countries and said it lacked sufficient “African context” and “African content.” Reports from the August 11 event confirmed that he called for a rethink of the democratic system being practised in Africa.

IPOB said the remarks supported its argument that Nigeria’s political structure should be reconsidered.

The group also cited comments attributed to former President Goodluck Jonathan about Nigeria’s nation-building process.

“Former President Goodluck Jonathan has also acknowledged the failure of nation-building,” IPOB said, arguing that such concerns should prompt a broader discussion about Nigeria’s political structure rather than another electoral contest alone.

IPOB said its proposal was not intended to predetermine the outcome of a referendum.

“A referendum does not predetermine the answer. It allows the people to give the answer,” the group said.

It added that if Nigerians chose to remain together, that decision should be respected, while any decision for a different constitutional arrangement should also be considered through a peaceful and democratic process.

“For Biafrans, Biafrans must decide the future of Biafra,” the statement said.

The group ended its statement with a call for a referendum, urging Nigerians to “let the people speak” and “let the people choose.”