DSS Petitions Elon Musk to Deactivate Activist’s Account Over Tinubu Criticism

On September 6, 2025, Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) sent a letter to X Corp’s CEO, Elon Musk, demanding the immediate deactivation of activist Omoyele Sowore’s verified X account (@YeleSowore). The DSS cited a post from August 25, 2025, where Sowore called President Bola Tinubu a “criminal” and accused him of lying about eradicating corruption during a trip to Brazil. The agency labeled the post as “misleading information,” “hate speech,” and a “threat to national security,” claiming it violated Nigeria’s Criminal Code Act, Cybercrimes Act 2025, and Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

The targeted account, which has amassed a significant following for its commentary on Nigerian politics, published a post over the weekend that contained allegations against President Tinubu regarding economic policy and governance. While the specific details of the post have been widely scrubbed from the Nigerian cyber-sphere under the country’s cybercrime laws, it is understood to have questioned the administration’s handling of ongoing economic reforms.

The order, which cybersecurity experts are calling a severe test of digital sovereignty and global free speech principles, places Musk in a difficult position, forcing him to choose between complying with the demands of a sovereign nation or upholding his self-professed commitment to being a “free speech absolutist.”

Sowore’s Defiant Response

Sowore, a prominent journalist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, dismissed the DSS’s demand as a “national disgrace” and an attack on free speech. He vowed not to delete the post, stating, “One option I will NOT be taking is deleting that Tweet.” X notified Sowore of the DSS’s request but has not taken action against his account, emphasizing its commitment to user transparency and free expression.

This isn’t Sowore’s first clash with Nigerian authorities. Previously arrested in 2019 for organizing #RevolutionNow protests, Sowore has faced ongoing harassment, including travel bans and allegations of terrorism financing. He accuses the Tinubu administration of using security agencies to silence dissent, a claim echoed by rights groups who criticize Nigeria’s government for targeting online critics.

DSS Gives 24-hour ultimatum to X

The DSS’s 24-hour ultimatum to X raises questions about the platform’s role in global free speech debates. Under Elon Musk’s leadership, X has positioned itself as a defender of open discourse, often resisting government pressure to censor content. In 2021, Nigeria banned Twitter (now X) after it deleted a post by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, highlighting ongoing tensions between the government and social media platforms.

The DSS’s move could set a precedent for how governments pressure international platforms to control narratives. Sowore’s case underscores the delicate balance between national security claims and the right to criticize public officials. As X navigates this demand, the world watches whether Musk’s “free speech absolutist” stance holds firm.

What do you think about the DSS’s demand? Is it a justified response to harmful content or an overreach against free speech? Share your thoughts below and follow for updates on this developing story.