The Department of State Services (DSS) has asked X (formerly Twitter) to delete a tweet posted by Omoyele Sowore, a Nigerian activist and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Alliance Congress (AAC). The tweet in question criticized President Bola Tinubu’s claim that corruption is no longer a significant issue in Nigeria, with Sowore calling Tinubu a “criminal” for making such a statement during a state visit to Brazil.
“This criminal actually went to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!” Sowore who was a former Presidential candidate wrote on his X handle.
The DSS claims Sowore’s tweet poses a threat to national security, constitutes online harassment, and spreads false information, citing several Nigerian laws, including the Cyber Crimes Act 2025 and the Terrorism Prevention Act.
“It is not in doubt that the words employed by Mr. Omoyele Sowore is misleading information, online harassment and abuse, willful intention of furthering an ideology capable of serious harm, hate speech, cause disunity, discredit/disparage the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria within the Comity of Nations to damage the image of Nigeria and cause serious threat to national security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” DSS wrote in a letter to X.
Sowore has refused to delete the tweet, emphasizing his right to free speech and criticizing the DSS’s attempt to suppress his views.
Sowore’s lawyer, Tope Temokun, argued that the DSS’s demand is unlawful and unconstitutional, referencing Nigerian constitutional law and international human rights standards that protect freedom of expression.
