Nigerian Activist Omoyele Sowore Slams DSS for Ordering X to Delete His Anti-Tinubu Tweet, Calls It Digital Tyranny

Omoyele Sowore has described the Department of State Services’ (DSS) letter to X (formerly Twitter) as an authoritarian overreach aimed at silencing dissent. He argues that demanding the removal of his August 25, 2025, tweet under threat of legal action against the global platform exposes the government’s desperation to control online narratives.

Omoyele Sowore further stated that no security agency in a democratic state should dictate to tech companies what citizens can or cannot say, especially when the remarks involve holding political leaders accountable. According to him, the DSS’s attempt to criminalize free speech is a continuation of Nigeria’s deep-seated tradition of weaponizing state institutions against critics.

Sowore Defends His Tweet as Truth, Not Hate Speech

Omoyele Sowore insists his tweet exposing President Tinubu’s alleged false claim in Brazil about the absence of corruption in his regime was rooted in truth and verifiable evidence. He argued that labeling his post as “hate speech” or “incitement” is nothing but political blackmail to shield those in power from public scrutiny.

Omoyele Sowore emphasized that Nigerian citizens must retain the right to question official narratives without fear of reprisal. He claims the DSS is attempting to rewrite the concept of “national security” to mean the protection of politicians from criticism rather than safeguarding citizens from real threats.

Sowore Calls Out DSS Legal Grounds as Flawed and Dangerous

Omoyele Sowore criticized the DSS for invoking the Criminal Code Act and the Cyber Crimes Act 2025, stressing that these laws are now being twisted to silence political opponents. He accused the agency of deliberately misinterpreting legal provisions to present his remarks as a criminal offense rather than constitutionally protected speech.

Omoyele Sowore argued that equating his statement to incitement of violence is a legal distortion that could set a dangerous precedent. If left unchecked, he warned, the DSS could brand any criticism of Tinubu’s administration as terrorism, effectively criminalizing public discourse in Nigeria.

Sowore Warns X Against Bowing to State Intimidation

Omoyele Sowore appealed directly to X Corp, urging the company not to cave to DSS threats. He stated that removing his tweet would amount to aiding and abetting digital authoritarianism in Africa’s largest democracy. He insisted that X must uphold its global commitment to protecting free expression, regardless of pressure from state actors.

Omoyele Sowore declared that if X complies, it would embolden other regimes worldwide to demand similar censorship of dissident voices. According to him, the credibility of X as a platform for free speech will be put to the ultimate test in Nigeria’s current political climate.

Sowore Links DSS Action to Tinubu’s Political Fragility

Omoyele Sowore described the DSS’s desperation as proof that President Tinubu’s administration is politically fragile and terrified of public criticism. He claimed that rather than address the substance of his allegations, the government is resorting to intimidation and legal harassment to silence him.

Omoyele Sowore added that the move reflects an insecurity at the heart of Tinubu’s presidency, where dissent is perceived as a direct attack on the state. He insisted that governments confident in their legitimacy would not waste resources policing tweets but instead respond with facts and transparency.

Sowore Predicts Wider Crackdown on Free Speech in Nigeria

Omoyele Sowore warned that this latest move signals a broader crackdown on digital rights in Nigeria, where the internet remains the last bastion of uncensored political expression. He said that the DSS action may only be the beginning of a campaign to force tech giants into complicity with Nigeria’s censorship machinery.

Omoyele Sowore concluded by urging Nigerians and the international community to resist creeping digital authoritarianism. He emphasized that if unchecked, the DSS’s demands will normalize a system where criticism of political leaders becomes a crime punishable by censorship, harassment, or imprisonment.