The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a strong directive to Igbos across Nigeria and the diaspora, urging them to completely shun all events marking the country’s Democracy Day, observed annually on June 12.
In a statement released on Monday and signed by the group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, IPOB stated that the boycott is in protest of what it described as the Nigerian Government’s continued disregard for May 30 — the Biafran Remembrance Day — which commemorates those who died during the Nigerian Civil War.
“Until Nigeria learns to respect and honour May 30th—our sacred Biafran Remembrance Day—we shall not partake in their selective history or skewed national rituals,” Powerful declared.
He further described the June 12 celebration as a “fraudulent ritual” that does not reflect the history or aspirations of the Igbo people, adding that the call for boycott is not only an IPOB directive but also a matter of “dignity and identity.”
The statement also touched on the ongoing internal wrangling within Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural body, strongly denying any claims of factionalization.
“There is no faction in Ohanaeze,” Powerful said. “The idea of a ‘factional’ Ohanaeze exists only in the imagination of political stooges acting on behalf of their masters in Abuja.”
He was referring to recent public comments made by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, whom he accused of impersonating the organization and misrepresenting the interests of the Igbo people.
“Isiguzoro does not represent any known wing or structure of Ohanaeze. He is unknown to the Igbo nation and should not be taken seriously,” the statement added.
Powerful reiterated that Senator Emmanuel Mbatta remains the only recognized leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and warned against further attempts to distort the group’s leadership.
He also criticized misinformation about the geographic spread of Igbo communities, rejecting the claim that Igboland exists only in seven Nigerian states.
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“Igbo-speaking people are indigenous to 13 states. Any attempt to shrink our ancestral footprint is an unforgivable betrayal,” he said.
Reasserting IPOB’s commitment to free speech, Powerful nonetheless warned against dragging Ohanaeze’s name into “sponsored narratives” and politically motivated rhetoric.
“This is not just about IPOB,” he concluded. “This is about our truth, our dignity, and our right to define who we are.”
The statement comes amid rising tensions over the federal government’s handling of national unity, ethnic identity, and historical memory.
IPOB has repeatedly accused Nigerian authorities of sidelining Igbo interests in national discourse — a charge Abuja has consistently denied.
As June 12 approaches, IPOB’s latest directive sets the stage for renewed debate over national identity, historical recognition, and the persistent divisions that shape Nigeria’s complex political landscape.