The Biafra Republic Government in Exile has removed Simon Ekpa as its Prime Minister and appointed Ogechukwu Nkere as his replacement, a statement issued on Thursday confirmed.
According to the announcement, Nkere was unanimously chosen by members of the BRGIE cabinet on January 14, 2026, following Ekpa’s continued detention in Finland.
“Ogechukwu Nkere was unanimously elected to serve as Prime Minister, succeeding Simon Ekpa Njoku, who was relieved of his position by the cabinet,” the statement read.
He has been acting Prime Minister since December 2024 after Ekpa’s arrest and detention overseas.
Before then, he held the financial portfolio within BRGIE and served for years as its representative in Washington DC.
The group disclosed that Nkere maintained strategic links in the United States, engaging lawmakers and government officials including Senator Ted Cruz and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.
BRGIE noted that his previous role in Washington placed him at the centre of advocacy efforts and international lobbying related to the cause.
Ekpa, a prominent separatist agitator, has remained in Finnish custody following his conviction and sentencing on September 1, 2025.