The demand was characterized by the Church leaders as an essential means of ensuring sufficient security, reviving the economy, and restoring stability in the South East.
Pastor Cosmos Ilechukwu, General Oversees of Charismatic Renewal Movement, spoke on behalf of the group at a press conference on Tuesday in Owerri. He urged President Ahmed Bola Tinubu's Federal Government to heed their call in the best interests of all citizens, particularly those in the south.
He declared, "The Federal Government is advised to see the need to, immediately, release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu before the November 11th election date in line with the earlier Order by the Court of Appeal. This is part of the strategic measures to ensure adequate security in the South East."
"The rule of law is the only justification for our clarion call. The Court of Appeal's decision to order Nnamdi Kanu's release means that his supporters would view his continued confinement as punishing.
Therefore, his release would undoubtedly reduce stress. In doing so, the Security Agencies would have a better opportunity to identify the criminal elements operating in the South East and hiding behind the agitators for Biafra.
The group also voiced concern about the state's ongoing wave of uneasiness with reference to the next gubernatorial election, emphasizing how this might impact voters' involvement in the process.
Ilechukwu went on, "Imo people are likely to go to the polls to elect a governor on November 11, 2023, in relation to the governorship election in Io State. Our mentoring teams are letting us know that they anticipate voter indifference will taint the process. The apatty's justification is not implausible.
First, voters will retreat within their shells in order to save their lives as a result of the state's severe instability and ongoing bloodletting. Second, the public is being led to believe that their votes would not matter by the violence and other electoral offenses that were sensationalized in various ways during this year's earlier elections.
"We are determined to work with all stakeholders to change the narrative because we are concerned about these very unfortunate and retrogressive stories."
"We want to encourage voters, the majority of whom belong to our respective denominations, to actively participate in civic duties on election day and abstain from actions that could jeopardize the peace."
However, it would be ineffective for us to encourage our people to cast ballots if they were met with violence instead.
"Therefore, in order to guarantee a flawless exercise, the security Agencies are mandated to implement the best possible security measures, particularly in the hotspot areas such as Orlu and Okigwe.” He went on