Simon Ekpa

He is the leader of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) organization, which works for independence of Biafra, a partially recognised state in West Africa that declared independence from Nigeria and existed from 1967 until 1970.

Ekpa is the group's designated Prime Minister.

Simon Ekpa (born 21 March 1985) is a Finnish local politician, lawyer and former Nigerian athlete.

Ekpa was born on 21 March 1985 in Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

He won a silver medal for Nigeria in 100 meters in the 2003 African Junior Athletics Championships in Cameroon.

Ekpa has lived in Lahti, Finland since 2007.

He learned Finnish, completed military service and started a family.

He is a member of the National Coalition Party of Finland, and was a candidate in the 2022 Finnish county elections.

As of 2023, he is a city councillor in Lahti.

He served in the Finnish military at the Häme Regiment in Hennala (2013) and currently a reservist in the Finnish Army.

After completing his high school education, he enrolled at Aberystwyth University to pursue a Master's degree in Law.

He also went to Canyon College for additional studies.

In July 2021 Ekpa was made lead broadcaster for Radio Biafra, associated with the separatist organisation Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) after the arrest of political activist Nnamdi Kanu.

However, Ekpa was dismissed in the same month, for violation of the rules of the organisation.

In 2022, IPOB accused "Simon Ekpa and his criminal gang called Autopilots" of illegal activities, while stating IPOB to be a peaceful movement.

The Daily Post stated in July 2023 that Ekpa led a faction of IPOB.

According to a report from Yle, Ekpa's activism started to gather mainstream attention in February 2023.

The local Kokoomus parti in Lahti stated that they have started an internal investigation of these claims.

Orji Anya Odim, representing the association Igbo Union Finland, stated "He should stop inciting hatred and provoking. Ekpa does not represent the Igbo people of Finland".

The Nigerian government has also demanded Finland stop Ekpa's activities.

Yle interviews with residents of Enugu suggested extensive fear of Ekpa and compliance with his "stay at home" orders involving the 2023 Nigerian elections.

In late February 2023 Yle reported Ekpa is being suspected of having raised funds in an illegal manner by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation.

Yle said in February 2023 that "estimates of the number of gunmen loyal to him vary greatly, from hundreds to tens of thousands, and his exact position in the separatist groups is unverified."

As of 2023, he has been called the Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE).

Nigerian news media have variously referred to him as "Prime Minister" or "self-acclaimed Prime Minister" of BRGIE.

Ekpa stated in 2023 that "Biafra Republic Government In-Exile is registered, approved and legal. Agent of Nigeria, take note!"

IPOB called the BRGIE "double agents sponsored by the Nigerian government to ridicule the IPOB movement".

In December 2022, Ekpa ordered a five-day sit at home civil disobedience campaign in the southeast and parts of southern Nigeria from 9 to 14 December 2022.

On 14 June 2023, Ekpa announced a week-long sit at home campaign from 3 to 10 July 2023, which according to The Whistler recorded 70% compliance.

The sit at home's have been enforced by gunmen.

Ekpa has denied any violence against civilians.

In 2023, he declared that no elections would be held in the region that year.

In October 2023, Ekpa and cabinet members of BRGIE hosted a three-day convention in Helsinki, Finland, where a possible Biafran Referendum was discussed with participants and attendants from Biafra.

Ekpa also announced the formation of the Biafra Liberation Army (BLA), a militant group fighting for secession from Nigeria.

BLA was suspected to have killed a police in Imo State in November.

On 25 May 2023 at the African Day Celebration in Helsinki, the Universal Peace Federation awarded Ekpa Ambassador for Peace.