DSS demands X remove Sowore’s post, threatens legal action

Abuja, Nigeria – The Department of State Services (DSS) has issued a stern ultimatum to X Corp., demanding the immediate removal of a tweet posted by human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore.

The tweet, posted on August 25, 2025, from Sowore’s verified X handle (@YeleSowore), is alleged to disparage President Bola Tinubu and violate Nigerian laws.

In a letter dated September 6, 2025, addressed to the Chairman and CEO of X Corp. in Bastrop County, Texas, DSS official B. Bamigboye, representing the Director General of State Services, called for the tweet’s removal within 24 hours, threatening legal action against the social media platform if it fails to comply.

The tweet in question reads: “This criminal @officialABAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is NO MORE corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!”

The DSS claims the tweet constitutes “misleading information,” “hate speech,” “incitement to violence,” and a “threat to national security.”

The agency argues that Sowore’s post violates Nigeria’s Criminal Code Act and the Cyber Crimes Act 2025, accusing him of intentionally damaging President Tinubu’s reputation and Nigeria’s international image.

The letter further suggests that the tweet could incite unrest among the President’s supporters, posing a risk to public order.

The DSS’s letter described Sowore’s actions as a “willful intention to further an ideology capable of serious harm,” emphasizing that the tweet was widely condemned and monitored with “dismay and consternation.”

The agency demanded the immediate ban or deactivation of Sowore’s X account (@YeleSowore) or any other accounts maintained by him.

Sowore, a prominent activist and founder of Sahara Reporters, has been a vocal critic of the Tinubu administration.

His recent activities, including leading protests against perceived injustices, have drawn significant attention.

On August 12, 2025, Sowore led a demonstration at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) headquarters in Abuja, demanding the release of a corps member’s discharge certificate, which he claimed was withheld due to political victimization.

This is not the first time Sowore has faced scrutiny from Nigerian authorities.

In 2019, during the Muhammadu Buhari administration, he was detained for 45 days, prompting nationwide protests by his supporters.

A leaked DSS memo from earlier this year also revealed plans to arrest Sowore upon his return to Nigeria for his involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protests, highlighting ongoing tensions between the activist and the government.

X Corp. has yet to issue a public response to the DSS’s demand.

The ultimatum raises questions about the balance between free speech and national security, as well as the role of international social media platforms in complying with local laws.

Critics argue that the DSS’s move is part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Nigeria, while supporters of the government maintain that such actions are necessary to maintain public order.

As the 24-hour deadline approaches, the situation remains tense, with activists and legal experts closely monitoring X’s next steps and the potential implications for freedom of expression in Nigeria.