DSS Petitions X to Deactivate Sowore’s Account Over Tinubu Tweet

The Department of State Services (DSS) has petitioned social media platform X (formerly Twitter), demanding the immediate deactivation of the account belonging to activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.

In a letter signed by B. Bamigboye on behalf of the Director-General of the DSS, the agency gave X 24 hours to act on its request, warning that it would take “far-reaching, sweeping and across-the-board measures” if the platform failed to comply.

The DSS accused Sowore of making a post on August 25, 2025, about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which it described as “capable of inciting violence and threatening national security.”

The controversial post, made from Sowore’s handle @YeleSowore, read:

“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!”

According to the DSS, the tweet, which tagged the President’s official handle @officialABAT, has generated public outrage and street protests by Tinubu’s supporters, creating political tension.

The security agency further argued that the publication violated multiple Nigerian laws, including Section 51 of the Criminal Code, provisions of the Cybercrimes Act, and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. It maintained that both Sowore and the platform could be held criminally liable.

“The tweet constitutes misleading information, online harassment, hate speech, and an attempt to discredit the President and Nigeria before the comity of nations,” the DSS stated.

The petition concluded with a warning:

“Should you fail, neglect and refuse to comply with the command in this notice, the Federal Government will be compelled to take far-reaching, sweeping and across-the-board measures through our Organization, whose mandate covers such criminal acts.”

As of press time, X had not issued an official response to the DSS petition.