Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Omoyele Sowore, has vowed not to delete a tweet critical of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, despite pressure from the Department of State Services (DSS).
Sowore revealed on Sunday via his X (formerly Twitter) account that the platform officially notified him of a legal takedown request from the DSS regarding his post on Tinubu.
In his response, the Sahara Reporters publisher declared that he would not bow to government intimidation.
“This morning, X officially contacted me about the despicable threat letter they received from the lawless DSS over my Tweet on Tinubu. One option I will NOT be taking is deleting that Tweet. Thank you, @X,” Sowore wrote.
He also shared the message sent to him by X, confirming that the DSS demanded his post be removed on grounds of “violating Nigerian law.” However, X stated that it had not taken any action on the content, stressing its policy of transparency and defending users’ voices.
Sowore, known for his unflinching criticism of successive Nigerian governments, has long accused the DSS of clamping down on dissent. He was previously arrested in 2019 over his “RevolutionNow” protest and detained for months despite court orders granting him bail.
The activist argued that his criticisms fall under constitutionally guaranteed free speech, while rights groups have repeatedly accused the DSS of targeting dissenting voices.
The development echoes Nigeria’s 2021 Twitter ban, when the Buhari-led administration blocked access to the platform after it deleted a tweet by the former president.
Sowore’s refusal to delete the post is expected to reignite debate about freedom of expression, government surveillance, and digital rights in Nigeria’s fragile democracy.
