The Indigenous People of Biafra has announced a change in its leadership structure, saying members of the United Nations Security Council and 72 countries and territories have been formally notified of the transition.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the group said its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, dissolved what it described as the third administration of its Directorate of State and inaugurated a fourth administration headed by Mazi Chris Nwaọgụ.
According to the group, the transition was carried out in line with its Code of Conduct, which it described as its supreme constitutional instrument, adding that copies of the document had been forwarded to the notified governments to explain the process.
IPOB stated that Kanu exercised his authority under the code to appoint, suspend, dismiss and dissolve members of the previous administration, describing the decision as final.
The group claimed that, in addition to the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, 72 countries and territories, including Israel, Germany, Canada, South Africa, Brazil, Ghana, Russia, India, Japan, France, Australia and Norway, had been informed of the leadership change.
It further declared that the new Directorate of State, headed by Chris Nwaọgụ, is the only body authorised to conduct the organisation’s international affairs.
The group said only documents endorsed by the new head of the Directorate of State would be recognised for asylum applications, diplomatic engagements, political representations and other official matters involving its members.
IPOB also announced that German authorities had been notified of the suspension of Collins Chineduh and the appointment of Mazi Abraham Ogbenna as its new national coordinator in Germany.
The group further disclosed that legal and administrative steps had commenced to recover assets, funds and properties allegedly controlled by members of the dissolved administration.
It directed members and supporters worldwide to disregard any communication not issued by the office of the new Head of the Directorate of State.
Note: The claims in the statement are those of IPOB and have not been independently verified. The United Nations and the governments the group said it notified had not publicly confirmed receipt or recognition of the notification.
