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| Sowore defends social media post criticizing Tinubu. |
Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has given activist and Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore a one-week ultimatum to retract a social media post about President Bola Tinubu. The DSS called the post false, malicious, and likely to incite public unrest .
The demand was made in a letter dated September 7, 2025. It was signed by Uwem Davies, the DSS Director of Legal Services. The letter said Sowore’s post on X (formerly Twitter) on August 26 contained criminal and derogatory remarks about President Tinubu .
Sowore, a former presidential candidate and pro-democracy activist, had described Tinubu as a “criminal.” He accused the president of lying to Nigerians during a visit to Brazil. Tinubu had reportedly claimed that corruption no longer existed under his administration .
The DSS warned that failure to comply would lead the agency to use all lawful means to protect national security and public order. The agency said Sowore’s words could incite public disturbance, disunity, and even insurrection .
The DSS demanded that Sowore retract the post on X with the same prominence as the original. He must also publish a public apology in two national newspapers and two television stations. Additionally, he must send a formal representation to DSS headquarters in Abuja or via email within one week .
The letter was copied to the United States Embassy in Abuja. This suggests international awareness of the case, given Sowore’s dual residency in Nigeria and the U.S. .
The DSS also contacted social media platforms about Sowore’s posts. On September 6, the agency wrote to X Corp, asking it to remove Sowore’s tweet within 24 hours. The DSS said the post threatened national security and violated Nigerian laws .
On September 7, the DSS wrote to Meta, the parent company of Facebook. It asked Meta to deactivate Sowore’s Facebook account over the same post. The DSS cited sections of the Criminal Code Act, the Cyber Crimes Act 2025, and the Terrorism Act .
Sowore has refused to delete the post. He criticized the DSS as “lawless” and “incompetent.” He questioned the agency’s priorities, noting recent violence in Nigeria that killed over 130 citizens .
The DSS said individuals like Sowore who seek to lead Nigeria must show high integrity. They should exercise restraint and responsibility in speech and action. The agency also said it works to prevent false propaganda from deceiving Nigerians .
This case highlights growing tensions between free speech and state security in Nigeria. It shows the government’s willingness to use legal measures against critics .
The DSS has not said what steps it will take if Sowore ignores the ultimatum. But it warned of measures within the laws of Nigeria .
Sowore has been a vocal critic of Nigerian governments for many years. He ran for president in 2019 and 2023. He is known for using social media to express his views .
The post in question remains on X and Facebook as of September 8. Sowore has not indicated he will comply with the DSS demands .