Amnesty International Slams DSS Over Pressure on X to Delete Sowore’s Anti-Tinubu Post

Amnesty International has condemned the Department of State Services (DSS) for attempting to force social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to delete a post critical of President Bola Tinubu made by activist and politician, Omoyele Sowore.

Sowore, who contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the African Action Congress (AAC), disclosed that he received a notification from X informing him that the DSS had formally requested the removal of one of his tweets critical of the Nigerian president.

Confirming the development, the DSS on Sunday evening posted a copy of the letter it sent to X on its official account, sparking widespread debate about free speech and government overreach.

In a strongly worded statement on Sunday, Amnesty International urged the DSS to “immediately withdraw its shocking demand,” describing the move as a blatant attack on press freedom and freedom of expression.

“The DSS targeting of Sowore’s X account is being done without any legal justification, as recognised under international human rights law.

This represents a violation of Nigeria’s obligations under the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Nigeria has ratified,” Amnesty International said.

The rights watchdog further described the DSS request for Sowore’s account deactivation as “outrageous” and “a desperate attempt at censorship and abuse of power.”

Sowore, a long-time government critic and pro-democracy campaigner, has frequently clashed with Nigerian security agencies over his activism. His latest confrontation with the DSS underscores what observers see as shrinking civic space in the country under Tinubu’s administration.

Amnesty International reiterated its call on Nigerian authorities to respect freedom of expression and stop harassing citizens for exercising their rights online.