The Department of State Services has reportedly moved to halt the prosecution of the African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, over alleged cyberbullying until after the 2027 presidential election.
The development could provide a major reprieve for Sowore, who is expected to intensify his campaign for the presidency ahead of the poll.
Sources familiar with the matter told our correspondent that the DSS Director-General, Tosin Ajayi, and senior officials in the agency’s legal directorate recently met with its lead counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, over the case.
The meeting reportedly took place on August 20, a day after the Independent National Electoral Commission officially lifted the ban on campaign activities.
The DSS was said to have directed its counsel to approach the Federal High Court for an adjournment when the court resumes from its annual vacation.
The case stems from social media posts allegedly made by Sowore on August 25, 2025, in which he described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal.”
Following the posts, the DSS reportedly gave Sowore seven days to delete them.
He allegedly refused to comply, prompting the security agency to approach the court for a judicial determination of whether the publication constituted an offence.
Rather than arresting or inviting the activist, as it had allegedly done in previous encounters, the DSS opted to seek the court’s interpretation of the matter.
But nearly a year after the case began, the agency is now reportedly prepared to press the pause button.
A source close to the DSS legal team said the decision followed concerns that continuing the prosecution during the election season could interfere with Sowore’s participation in the presidential contest.
“The DSS Director-General reportedly told the Senior Advocate and his directorate of legal services that, with the commencement of presidential campaigns, it would only be fair to pause the court case in order to enable Sowore fully participate in the upcoming elections without let or hindrance,” the source said.
The source added that the DSS leadership considered the fact that the matter had already spent almost a year in court.
“The DSS boss told the lawyers that, since the matter had been in court for nearly a year, suspending it for another four months wouldn’t make much difference,” the source said.
DSS Reviews Cases Involving Politicians
The directive is reportedly not limited to Sowore.
The source said the DSS also instructed its legal directorate to review cases involving other contestants seeking elective positions ahead of the 2027 elections.
The agency had previously argued that its responsibility to protect the President extends beyond physical security, including what it considers psychological attacks.
In a September 6, 2025 letter to Meta, the DSS reportedly cited this position while explaining its concerns over the posts.
The Service had also approached the court in connection with Professor Pat Utomi’s proposed “Shadow Government”, seeking judicial interpretation of its legality.
For Sowore, however, the latest development could remove a potentially significant legal distraction as he battles for votes in the 2027 presidential race.
The DSS is expected to formally communicate its position to the Federal High Court on September 14, when the court resumes normal proceedings after the annual judicial vacation.
The reported move, however, does not mean that Sowore has been cleared of the allegations against him or that the case has been withdrawn.
Rather, it would amount to a temporary suspension or adjournment of proceedings until after the election.
The development comes as presidential contenders begin nationwide campaigns, setting the stage for what is expected to be a fiercely contested 2027 presidential election.