There is infighting within the ranks of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as its Directorate of State (DOS) has formally disbanded the use of the pseudonym “Emma Powerful,” directing that all official IPOB press releases must henceforth be issued only on the organisation’s official letterheaded paper.

This decision was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by Mazi Chukwukadibia Edoziem, Head of the Directorate of State of the IPOB.

According to the statement, the DOS explained that the pseudonym, Emma Powerful, which had been operationally used by the IPOB Publicity Secretary for disseminating press releases, “has been abused, misused, and compromised, thereby posing serious risks to the movement”.

The statement noted that “IPOB considers it critically imperative to make these clarifications as part of its commitment to ensuring that the global IPOB movement operates in line with globally recognised and accepted institutional best practices”.

The DOS outlined the following considerations: “That Emma Powerful was originally an operational pseudonym used for IPOB press releases.

“That any statement issued under the name of the Indigenous People of Biafra carries enormous responsibility for IPOB and its leadership.

“That the pseudonym has been abused, misused, and compromised.

“That the continued use of the pseudonym presents clear and present dangers to IPOB as a movement and to the Biafran self-determination struggle.

“That certain individuals and groups have subtly deployed the pseudonym as a tool to disrupt the prevailing peace and security currently enjoyed by both Biafrans and visitors in Biafraland.

“Consequently, the Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra resolved as follows:

“In line with organisational standards, all press statements representing the official position of IPOB must, henceforth, be released exclusively on IPOB’s official letter headed paper.

“Arising from the abuse, misuse, and compromise of the pseudonym, Emma Powerful, IPOB shall no longer use this name in issuing its press statements.

“For the avoidance of doubt and in the interest of clarity, any press statement released under the pseudonym “Emma Powerful” going forward, does not emanate from IPOB leadership and does not represent the position of the IPOB Directorate of State (DOS).

“Furthermore, the Directorate of State categorically stated that it did not authorise any individual or group whatsoever to issue a lockdown or sit-at-home order across Biafraland on Monday, 2 February 2026”.

But the IPOB SPokesperson, Emma Powerful, fired back at the DOS, insisting that no arm of IPOB can sack him as he was directly appointed by their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and that only him can sack him.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by Powerful: “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 Directorate of Media & Publicity predates all Directorates, except Finance. 

“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.

“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 then-lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who has nothing to do with Onyendu or IPOB except personal legal representation for individuals within the movement. 

“If Onyendu could appoint officers 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.

“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.

“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. 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.

“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.

“For the avoidance of doubt: The press statement concerning Monday’s sit-at-home was issued by me and by nobody else.”