In a statement issued by Aliyu’s spokesperson, Abubakar Bawa, the government dismissed the narrative as false and mischievous.
The Sokoto State government has debunked reports claiming Governor Ahmed Aliyu accompanied Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, during his visit to the detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, at the Sokoto Custodial Centre.
In a statement issued by Aliyu’s spokesperson, Abubakar Bawa, the government dismissed the narrative as false and mischievous.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Ahmed Aliyu was in the Holy Land performing Lesser Hajj as of 30th November 2025, at the time Dr. Otti privately visited Sokoto State,” the statement said.
According to the clarification, Governor Otti was received not by Aliyu but by selected commissioners and Special Advisers, who escorted him to Government House to receive standard protocol courtesies accorded to visiting governors.
“As you all know, the people of Sokoto are hospitable. We treat our visitors with utmost respect, irrespective of tribe or religion,” the government added, subtly reacting to online insinuations suggesting political alignment or covert endorsement linked to Otti’s meeting.
The state government stressed that Aliyu remains committed to national unity and lawful engagement.
“The Sokoto State Government reiterates that Governor Ahmed Aliyu holds deep respect for constituted authority, remains committed to the Nigerian project, and continues to be a peace-loving and law-abiding citizen,” the statement emphasised.
Otti’s visit to Kanu, which IPOB described as “historic” and “surprising,” has continued to generate controversy, particularly across northern political circles and security stakeholders wary of the symbolism of a sitting governor meeting the separatist figure.
Otti was accompanied by Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu; Abia State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna (SAN); and his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma.
Kanu, who was convicted on terrorism-related charges, was on November 20, 2025, sentenced to life imprisonment by the Federal High Court, a judgment that remains a flashpoint in Nigeria’s ethno-political and security debates.
Despite the backlash trailing his visit, Otti has not issued a formal statement explaining his mission to the Sokoto facility, while IPOB factions have seized on the moment to claim renewed legitimacy and political acknowledgment.
The Sokoto government, however, maintained that the governor had no involvement, direct or indirect, in Otti’s prison engagement.