IPOB Denounces Simon Ekpa, Declares True Biafra Will Come Through UN Referendum

By Achimi Muktar

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has once again distanced itself from Simon Ekpa, the Finland-based self-proclaimed leader of an "autopilot government," labeling him a mere content creator with no ties to the organization. In a statement issued on Sunday, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, categorically disowned Ekpa, the so-called Biafran government in exile, and its detained prime minister.

"Simon Ekpa Is Not One of Us"

IPOB’s latest declaration comes amid repeated instances of media outlets linking Ekpa and his faction to the movement. Emma Powerful described this association as baseless and urged media houses to desist from such misrepresentations.

“We warn those media houses attaching the content creator to IPOB to please stop. They are not IPOB members and can never be,” said the spokesperson.

Simon Ekpa, according to IPOB, has openly declared that he is not part of the organization and instead leads a group of social media influencers under the banner of "Autopilots."

“Simon Ekpa is a self-confessed content creator and the head of a group of social media content creators known as Autopilots, which were never part of the IPOB structure. Why the persistence in attaching somebody who declared publicly that he is not a member of IPOB to the peaceful movement?”

Biafra Through Peaceful Means

Emma Powerful reiterated IPOB’s commitment to achieving self-determination through a United Nations-supervised referendum. The group dismissed claims by Ekpa and his faction as distractions from its stated mission.

“IPOB's pursuit of self-determination through the instrumentality of a UN-supervised referendum is our only stated mission,” he emphasized, adding that any attempts to associate IPOB with Ekpa’s actions are mischievous and lack journalistic integrity.

A Call for Responsible Reporting

In a sharp rebuke of media practices, IPOB urged journalists to conduct proper research into Ekpa’s public statements to establish that he and his Autopilot faction have no affiliation with IPOB.

“Any entity or media house attaching or forcibly ascribing IPOB membership to nonentities or whomsoever they like are only being mischievous and not interested in true journalism,” the statement read.

The group also criticized what it described as efforts to discredit IPOB and its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, through misleading narratives.

The Bigger Picture

IPOB has consistently disavowed violent or rogue elements claiming to represent its cause, maintaining that its approach is rooted in peaceful advocacy. By clarifying its position, IPOB seeks to draw a line between its organized structure and what it calls the “self-serving agendas” of other factions.

As the push for Biafra’s independence continues, IPOB remains steadfast in its call for a UN-backed referendum as the only legitimate path to achieving its aspirations. Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding Simon Ekpa highlights the challenges of maintaining unity and clarity within the broader pro-Biafran movement.