Amnesty International urges Nigeria to drop charges against activist Sowore
Amnesty International has urged the Nigerian government to immediately end what it describes as the persecution and judicial harassment of activist, journalist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, calling for all charges against him to be withdrawn. In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 22, 2026, the group's Nigeria Executive Director Isa Sanusi said the ongoing harassment, intimidation and unfair prosecution of Sowore exemplify the misuse of Nigeria's criminal justice system to suppress peaceful dissent. Amnesty argued that no one should face arrest or punishment for expressing opinions, exposing alleged wrongdoing or criticising those in power, and warned that such actions violate the Nigerian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The organisation also raised concerns about the Department of State Services' involvement in Sowore's case, urging security agencies to focus on protecting national security rather than intimidating critics. It called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to publicly reaffirm his administration's commitment to human rights and to direct law enforcement to halt the misuse of criminal investigations, while urging a review of laws on criminal defamation, cybercrime and related offences frequently used to silence peaceful expression. Amnesty urged authorities to demonstrate their commitment to protecting civic space, upholding the rule of law and respecting rights guaranteed under domestic and international human rights instruments. With Amnesty pressing Tinubu to act, will the government heed the call to protect dissent, or will Sowore's case deepen fears of shrinking civic space in Nigeria?