The Department of State Services (DSS) has given activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore a one-week ultimatum to retract what it calls a “false, malicious, and inciting” social media post targeting President Bola Tinubu.
In a letter dated September 7, 2025, the DSS accused Sowore of making “criminal and derogatory” statements against the President in a post on X (formerly Twitter) dated August 26, 2025.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC) and a pro-democracy activist, had labeled Tinubu a “criminal” in the post, accusing him of dishonestly claiming that corruption no longer exists under his administration.
The DSS, through its Director of Legal Services, Uwem Davies, stated that Sowore’s remarks had stirred public anger and could “incite disturbance, disunity, and even insurrection.” The agency warned that failure to comply would compel it to “explore all lawful means” to safeguard national security and public order.
“Your choice of words in describing the President are false, malicious, and capable of inciting public disturbance, disunity, and breakdown of law and order. These statements, at best, risk causing insurrection, as they are odious, repugnant, derogatory, and disrespectful toward the highest office in this country,” the letter to Sowore read.
The DSS demanded that Sowore immediately retract the post on the same platform, X (formerly Twitter), giving it the same prominence as the original. Furthermore, the agency required him to publish a public apology in at least two widely read national newspapers and on two national television stations.
The letter also instructed Sowore to submit a formal representation to the DSS headquarters at No. 1 Maitama Avenue, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, or via official email addresses within one week of receiving the letter.
“Make an immediate and unequivocal retraction of the false and repugnant post through the same platform and with the same prominence as the initial post; publish a public apology in at least two national dailies and two television stations with national coverage; and submit your representation within one week of receipt of this letter,” it stated.
Notably, the DSS copied the United States Embassy in Abuja, indicating the issue had attracted diplomatic attention, likely due to Sowore’s dual residency in Nigeria and the U.S.
The agency reminded Sowore, who has consistently criticized successive Nigerian governments, that individuals aspiring to leadership roles in the country’s democracy must exercise restraint and responsibility in both speech and action.
“Persons of your status, campaigning to lead this country as key stakeholders in democracy, must uphold high integrity and therefore should exercise restraint and responsibility in their words and deeds. Such individuals and organizations must also tailor their comments to promote peace, security, and good governance,” the DSS emphasized.
The agency further stated that its constitutional mandate includes protecting Nigerians from false propaganda and warned that it would not hesitate to take necessary actions if Sowore failed to comply.
“The DSS is a security intelligence agency mandated, among other things, to ensure Nigerians are not misled by false propaganda. Consequently, should you fail to correct this false narrative, the Service will, without further notice, initiate appropriate measures within the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the letter concluded.
