In what appears to be a deepening crisis within the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the group’s spokesman identifying as Emma Powerful has defended the Monday, February 2, 2026 sit-at-home order while simultaneously, the Directorate of State (DOS) of IPOB has abolished the use of the “Emma Powerful” pseudonym, directing that all official communications must henceforth be issued strictly on IPOB’s official letterheaded paper.
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The developments come amid confusion over who legitimately speaks for IPOB, with some persons claiming there is nobody officially recognised as Emma Powerful, as earlier alleged by Senator Orji Kalu, while others accuse factions loyal to detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu of operating faceless groups.
Onitsha Main Market was closed for a week by Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, following the traders’ non-compliance with his ban on the observance of the Monday sit-at-home in the state.
IPOB kicked against the development and told the traders to open their shops regardless of the governor’s order. But Soludo enforced the closure by deploying armoured tanks and heavily armed security agents to the market.
In response to the development, IPOB, in a statement by spokesman Emma Powerful, ordered a sit-at-home across the South-East on Monday, February 2, to show solidarity with the Onitsha Main Market traders.
However, IPOB lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor issued a statement to counter the directive, noting that the group had since jettisoned sit-at-home in the South-East. Ejiofor also questioned Powerful’s role in the organisation, alleging that he has been compromised.
Reacting to Ejiofor’s statement on Saturday, the person identifying as Emma Powerful said a non-member cannot speak for the group, alleging that Ejiofor had been expelled from IPOB before now.
Stressing that IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu is the ultimate authority in the organisation, Powerful explained that Kanu established a chain of command in the organisation which cannot be challenged.
“The chain of command in IPOB is not a recent invention. It is as old as the movement itself. A sacked lawyer and non member of IPOB cannot speak for the movement,” Powerful said.
“Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu deliberately created structured departments to manage the affairs of IPOB in moments exactly like this. His word is final. What he says is law within IPOB. Anyone struggling with this basic fact is either new to the struggle or fundamentally undisciplined,” the spokesman stated.
Powerful further explained the structure of the organisation’s media operations.
“The Directorate of Media & Publicity predates all Directorates except IT headed by Mazi Ofoma and Finance still headed by Madam Nnennaya Anya. If you do not understand this, then you lack historical grounding in IPOB. No newspaper, media house, or international platform publishes anything concerning IPOB without passing through the office of the Spokesperson. That is not arrogance; that is structure,” he said.
Powerful spelt out the role of IPOB spokesman: “As Spokesperson of IPOB, my duty is simple and clear: To communicate to the world the direction set by our leader. To help secure the release of our leader while keeping the movement resolute, disciplined, and uncontaminated in the collective effort to restore Biafra.”
“IPOB is led by Onyendu as long as he lives. He appointed members of the Directorate of State (DOS) while in DSS custody, acting through his now sacked lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who has absolutely nothing to do with Onyendu nor IPOB led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. A sacked lawyer and non-member of IPOB cannot speak for the movement,” Powerful declared.
“If Onyendu could appoint officers and debrief lawyers from detention, it means his directives are supreme and not subject to debate or query. He made this position clear to Asia Rep that visited him last week on behalf of DOS. So there is no confusion whatsoever.”
“Only one person appoints or removes anyone in IPOB — our leader. No committee, no platform, no noise on social media alters this reality,” Powerful insisted.
The IPOB spokesman clarified that the February 2 sit-at-home is a one-off event.
“The sit-at-home scheduled for Monday, February 2, is a one-off action in direct response to Governor Soludo’s reckless intimidation of our people for showing solidarity with Onyendu. It is not open to speculation, reinterpretation, or distortion,” he stated.
Powerful also called out some members who allegedly held a secret meeting with representatives of Governor Soludo.
“Let it also be clearly understood that those claiming to be from DOS that held a secret meeting with representatives of Governor Soludo on Thursday, claiming to speak in the name of our leader and allegedly assuring him that IPOB would not oppose the intimidation and humiliation of our businessmen and women at Onitsha Main Market, are gravely mistaken. They neither represent Onyendu nor understand him,” Powerful said.
“Our leader has always stood—and will always stand—with the oppressed masses, not with their tormentors. No private meeting, inducement, or cowardly compromise can rewrite that truth.”
“Anyone genuinely confused should go to Sokoto and seek clarification from our leader—not engage in idle gossip or internal sabotage online,” Powerful said.
Powerful vowed that the movement cannot abandon Kanu, and would continue to fight for his freedom.
“Those hoping we will forget Onyendu and start chasing shadows are deluding themselves. He founded IPOB. He called us into this struggle. We remain bound to his vision and his instructions. If you are unwilling to follow what Onyendu wants, then form your own group and stop yapping on social media under the IPOB name,” he said.
“For the avoidance of doubt: The press statement concerning Monday’s sit-at-home was issued by me and by nobody else,” the IPOB spokesman added.
However, in a dramatic twist that appears to contradict Powerful’s assertions, the Directorate of State (DOS) of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has abolished the use of the pseudonym “Emma Powerful”.
The decision was announced in a statement released on Saturday by Mazi Chukwukadibia Edoziem, Head of IPOB’s Directorate of State.
He said the move followed the abuse, misuse and compromise of the pseudonym, which had previously been used by the organisation’s publicity desk to disseminate press releases.
According to the DOS, the continued use of “Emma Powerful” had become a liability, posing serious risks to the movement and its leadership.
The directorate stressed that any statement issued in the name of IPOB carries enormous responsibility and must reflect globally recognised institutional best practices.
The statement explained that the pseudonym, initially adopted for operational convenience, had been exploited by unauthorised individuals and groups to spread misinformation, undermine internal order, and threaten the prevailing peace and security in Biafraland.
“In view of these dangers, the Directorate of State has resolved that all official IPOB press statements shall be released exclusively on IPOB’s official letterhead,” the statement said.
“Accordingly, IPOB will no longer issue statements under the name ‘Emma Powerful’.”
The DOS has directed that all official communications must henceforth be issued strictly on IPOB’s official letterheaded paper.
The simultaneous statements present an apparent contradiction within IPOB’s leadership structure:
On one hand, someone identifying as Emma Powerful is asserting his authority as IPOB spokesman, defending the sit-at-home order, and claiming to speak with the authority of detained leader Nnamdi Kanu.
On the other hand, the Directorate of State—which Powerful claims was appointed by Kanu himself—is abolishing the “Emma Powerful” pseudonym and declaring that statements issued under that name will no longer be recognized.
The developments raise serious questions about:
- Who legitimately speaks for IPOB?
- Whether there is actually a person officially recognized as Emma Powerful, as Senator Orji Kalu and others have questioned
- Whether factions within IPOB are operating independently
- How directives from the detained Nnamdi Kanu are being communicated and verified
- Whether the sit-at-home order for February 2 remains valid given the DOS directive
The confusion within IPOB’s leadership leaves residents of the South-East uncertain about whether to observe the February 2 sit-at-home or ignore it as advised by lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor.
The contradictory directives from different factions claiming to represent IPOB and its detained leader create a dilemma for traders, business owners, and residents who risk reprisals regardless of which directive they follow.
Security agencies and state governments in the South-East will be monitoring the situation closely to determine how residents respond to the conflicting directives and to maintain order on February 2.
Governor Soludo’s forceful closure of Onitsha Main Market, backed by armoured tanks and heavily armed security agents, demonstrates the government’s determination to end compliance with sit-at-home orders.
IPOB has historically operated with a complex structure including various directorates:
- Directorate of State (DOS) – overall coordination
- Directorate of Media & Publicity – public communications
- IT Directorate – digital operations
- Finance Directorate – funding management
However, with the detention of leader Nnamdi Kanu in DSS custody since his re-arrest, questions have persisted about how instructions are transmitted from Kanu to various directorates and whether different factions are genuinely operating under his authority or pursuing independent agendas.
The abolition of the “Emma Powerful” pseudonym by the DOS appears designed to bring order to IPOB’s communications and prevent unauthorized individuals from issuing statements in the group’s name.
However, the timing—coinciding with the person identifying as Emma Powerful defending a controversial sit-at-home order—suggests deep internal divisions that may take time to resolve.
As of the time of this report, it remains unclear whether the February 2 sit-at-home will be widely observed, ignored, or result in confusion and potential violence in the South-East region.
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