A fresh move to secure the release of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, gained momentum on Tuesday as Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.

The meeting, held behind closed doors, is seen as a major step in Otti’s ongoing political and diplomatic engagements targeted at resolving Kanu’s long-running detention.

Otti arrived the Villa shortly after his visit to Sokoto, where Kanu is currently held.

The governor had recently travelled to the Sokoto correctional facility in the company of Emmanuel Kanu, the IPOB leader’s younger brother; Abia State Attorney-General, Ikechukwu Uwanna (SAN); and his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma. Senior Sokoto State officials were also present.

During that engagement, Otti held a private discussion with Kanu and assured him that the state was committed to exhausting all lawful avenues to secure his freedom.

Otti has repeatedly described Kanu’s case as both a humanitarian concern and a regional stabilisation issue.

After the Sokoto visit, he disclosed that an agreed strategy for Kanu’s release had been “reactivated and strengthened” following consultations with legal and political stakeholders.

Tuesday’s meeting with President Tinubu is believed to be a continuation of that strategy. Though details were not made public, Villa sources described the atmosphere as positive, with signs that political-legal negotiations may be advancing.

Otti has maintained that while Kanu is free to pursue his appeal in court, political channels remain essential for reaching a final resolution.

The renewed engagement in Abuja has raised expectations in the South-East, where many have continued to call for Kanu’s release to ease tensions and promote dialogue.