The Integrity Youth Alliance has faulted recent calls by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Amnesty International urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to withdraw the criminal defamation charges against African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Kelvin Adegbenga, the group described the calls as “misplaced, biased, and detrimental to the sanctity of justice,” insisting that Sowore must be held accountable for what it termed “persistent defamation” of President Tinubu’s character.
According to the group, Sowore’s actions have “gone far beyond constructive criticism” and now amount to “deliberate falsehood and incitement.” It rejected claims by SERAP and Amnesty that the Department of State Services (DSS) and other agencies were weaponising the justice system to silence dissent.
“Sowore’s posts on social media are not criticism by any democratic standard; they are defamatory, malicious, and inflammatory,” the statement read, adding that his “Revolution Now” campaign was not peaceful dissent but “a dangerous call for insurrection.”
The Alliance maintained that the ongoing lawsuits against Sowore were “necessary and proportionate” under Nigeria’s constitution and international obligations, stressing that freedom of expression does not permit “reckless defamation or the spread of inciting falsehoods.”
It further urged SERAP and Amnesty International to “caution Mr Sowore” rather than “lend credibility to his baseless utterances,” warning that continued support for him would undermine the credibility of the organisations.
“The Integrity Youth Alliance stands firmly on the side of truth, justice, and responsible civic engagement,” Adegbenga stated. “While we will always defend freedom of speech, we equally insist that such freedoms carry corresponding responsibilities, and no individual, no matter how prominent, is above the law.”
