The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has released details of its Code of Conduct amid an ongoing leadership dispute within the group, stating that its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has exclusive authority to appoint and dissolve the Directorate of State (DOS), its highest administrative body.

The development follows a crisis that emerged after Kanu, who is currently serving a life sentence in Sokoto prison after being convicted on terrorism charges by the Nigerian government, dissolved the 3rd Administration of the DOS led by Chika Edoziem.

Kanu subsequently announced the appointment of a 4th Administration of the DOS, headed by Chris Nwaogu.

Following the decision, Edoziem issued a statement announcing the suspension of the Office of the Leader, which is occupied by Kanu.

However, IPOB rejected Edoziem’s action, describing the purported suspension as unlawful, invalid, and without effect.

In a statement issued on Saturday by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the group said it released its Code of Conduct to clarify the controversy surrounding the dissolution of the Edoziem-led DOS administration.

The group cited provisions of the Code of Conduct, particularly Section II, Subsection A on appointments and dismissals, which it said gives Kanu the authority to appoint, suspend, or remove principal officers of IPOB.

The statement read: “The power to appoint, suspend or dismiss erring principal officers vest exclusively on the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, except and to the extent he clearly and expressly delegates that power to any other principal officer.”

According to IPOB, once the leader exercises the power to appoint, suspend, dismiss, or dissolve an administrative structure, affected officers are required to comply immediately.

The group maintained that there is no provision in its Code of Conduct allowing a removed officer to reject, delay, overturn, or suspend a decision made by the leader within his stated authority.

IPOB argued that the dissolution of the 3rd Administration effectively ended the tenure of its members, adding that any continued claim to those positions was no longer supported by the organisation’s governing rules.

“The issue before IPOB family members worldwide is therefore not whether they agree or disagree with the dissolution. The issue is whether the Constitution of IPOB remains supreme,” the statement said.

The group further explained that appointments within the organisation are temporary and based on performance, stating that principal officers are initially appointed for six months and may only have their tenure extended based on satisfactory performance.

It added that such positions are voluntary and do not come with salaries or financial benefits.

IPOB accused the dissolved 3rd Administration of operating under the belief that its tenure was permanent, insisting that the authority responsible for creating an administrative structure also has the power to restructure or dissolve it.

The statement also noted that none of the members of the dissolved administration was a founding member of IPOB, arguing that they occupied their former positions solely through appointments made by Kanu.

Describing the Code of Conduct as the supreme governing document of the organisation, IPOB said it defines the group’s structure, leadership hierarchy, and operational guidelines.

“The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Worldwide wishes to address, once and for all, the unfortunate and unnecessary controversy generated by the lawful dissolution of the 3rd Administration of the Directorate of State (DOS) by the Supreme Leader of IPOB, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” the statement added.

The group stated that the DOS was created by Kanu as an administrative body to support the day-to-day running of IPOB and ensure continuity of activities worldwide.

It argued that the DOS does not operate as an independent or equal authority but derives its legitimacy from the leadership structure established under IPOB’s Code of Conduct.

“The Directorate of State was not the institution that created IPOB. The Directorate of State was created by Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as an administrative organ of IPOB,” the statement said.

IPOB further argued that the authority to create the DOS automatically includes the authority to reform, replace, or dissolve it.

“The same authority that appoints possesses the authority to remove. That is the law of IPOB. That is the Constitution of IPOB,” the statement said.

The group insisted that the dissolution of the 3rd Administration was constitutionally valid and binding on all IPOB structures globally.

It also declared that the 4th Administration of the DOS led by Chris Nwaogu had been properly constituted and was already functioning.

IPOB warned that any individual or group continuing to act under the dissolved administration was operating outside the authority of the organisation and could face disciplinary action under its Code of Conduct.