DSS SEEKS COURT PAUSE IN SOWORE CASE UNTIL AFTER 2027 ELECTION

The Department of State Services has directed its legal team to seek the suspension of the alleged cyber-bullying case against African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, until after the 2027 general election.

The request was reportedly conveyed to the DSS private counsel, Akinolu Kehinde, SAN, following discussions involving the agency’s Director-General, Tosin Ajayi, and senior officials in its legal directorate.

The move is linked to Sowore’s expected participation in the 2027 presidential election, which is scheduled for January 16, 2027. According to sources familiar with the development, the DSS leadership believes that putting the case on hold would allow the AAC candidate to participate fully in the electoral process without the ongoing court proceedings becoming a hindrance.

The decision represents a significant development in the legal proceedings against Sowore, who has been facing charges over alleged cyber-bullying and defamatory comments concerning President Bola Tinubu.

The case was instituted by the DSS, and proceedings have already progressed considerably. In May 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed Sowore’s no-case submission and ruled that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence requiring him to open his defence.

With the latest directive, the DSS is seeking to temporarily halt further proceedings rather than continue with the prosecution during the period leading to the presidential election.

The proposed suspension is expected to remain in place until after the 2027 election, after which the case could potentially resume depending on the position of the court and the parties involved.

The development is particularly notable because Sowore is not only the defendant in the case but is also positioning himself as a presidential candidate ahead of the next election.

The DSS's reported decision could therefore prevent the legal proceedings from coinciding with the most active period of the presidential campaign.

The agency's position also comes as political parties and candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 elections, with campaigns expected to generate increased public and legal scrutiny of political actors.

For Sowore, the proposed pause would provide an opportunity to focus on his campaign activities without having to simultaneously attend to the ongoing criminal proceedings.

However, the DSS's request does not automatically terminate or dismiss the case. A formal application would still have to be considered by the court before any suspension can take effect.

The development has already generated interest because of the unusual circumstances surrounding the request, particularly the fact that the prosecuting agency itself is seeking a delay in proceedings involving a presidential candidate.

Until the court rules on the application, the case remains active and the allegations against Sowore remain unresolved.

The proposed suspension therefore represents a temporary procedural move rather than a final determination of the allegations against the AAC candidate.