President Bola Tinubu has reportedly dispatched top officials to negotiate the early release of jailed former deputy Senate president Ike Ekweremadu, a move seen as part of his 2027 re-election strategy.
VIDEO: Nigeria sends delegation to UK over Ekweremadu
— The Nation Nigeria (@TheNationNews) November 11, 2025
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dispatched a high-level Nigerian delegation to the United Kingdom to engage British authorities on the imprisonment of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.
The delegation, which… pic.twitter.com/Qbz8jF1gdi
President Bola Tinubu has sent envoys to the United Kingdom to negotiate the early release of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who is serving a nine-year sentence for organ trafficking.
According to a report from Peoples Gazette, the delegation—comprising Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar and Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi—arrived in the UK to discuss a possible transfer deal for Ekweremadu.
The former lawmaker was convicted in 2023 by a British court for luring a 21-year-old Nigerian man to the UK to harvest his kidney for his ailing daughter, Sonia. Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, were found guilty under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act and sentenced to nine years and eight months and four years and six months respectively.
Political observers say the timing of Tinubu’s intervention—less than 15 months before the 2027 polls—suggests an attempt to win favour in the South-East, where he performed poorly during the 2023 election, polling just 4,772 votes in Enugu, Ekweremadu’s home state.
The development follows Enugu Governor Peter Mbah’s recent defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress, further signalling that preparations for the 2027 election are underway.
Tinubu’s outreach, analysts say, may be part of a broader effort to mend relations with the region amid lingering discontent over the detention of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu.
Alternative Headlines:
- Tinubu Moves to Secure Ekweremadu’s Release Ahead of 2027 Elections
- Analysts See Political Motive as Tinubu Seeks Early Release of Ekweremadu
- Tinubu Courts South-East Support With Ekweremadu Release Talks