Activist and 2027 presidential hopeful Omoyele Sowore has waded into the case of popular TikTok entertainer Ademola Abiodun, aka DJ Chicken, offering to help secure his release after the content creator was remanded over an alleged threat against Seyi Tinubu. The intervention has reignited debate about free speech, online content, and government overreach in Nigeria.
The Case: Viral Video, Arrest, and Charges
The trouble started after a video posted on DJ Chicken’s social media accounts on July 5, 2026. In the clip, the entertainer was discussing the 2027 presidential election and said: “Tinubu, you can’t win the election. If you win, I will kill Seyi Tinubu. I won’t say more than that.”
The statement sparked backlash online. Following public criticism, DJ Chicken released another video retracting the remarks and calling them a joke intended to generate attention. He maintained that he had no intention of harming Seyi Tinubu.
Despite the apology, the Lagos State Government pressed ahead with criminal charges. On July 11, 2026, DJ Chicken was arraigned before Magistrate M.F. Onamusi at the Ogba Magistrate’s Court in Lagos.
He faces a three-count charge: Alleged threat to kill Seyi Tinubu, contrary to Section 232 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015- Transmitting a grossly offensive and menacing message through a computer network, under Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act, 2015
Conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace and intended to intimidate or embarrass Seyi Tinubu, contrary to Section 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State
DJ Chicken pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court granted him bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum. However, he remains remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre because the bail conditions have not been met. His next court date is August 3.
Sowore Steps In: “Government Overreach”
Amid fan pleas under the hashtag #FreeDJChicken, activist Omoyele Sowore announced he would help the TikToker. Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and the African Action Congress presidential candidate for 2019 and 2023, is himself currently facing trial for alleged cybercrime and criminal defamation over posts about President Bola Tinubu.
Sowore slammed the charges against DJ Chicken as government overreach. He argued that prosecuting a content creator for remarks he later retracted and called a joke sets a dangerous precedent for free expression.
The activist has been vocal about what he describes as politically motivated prosecutions under the current administration. In recent weeks he accused authorities of trying to “convict me at all costs” over remarks in which he called President Tinubu a “criminal”. The DSS has filed a five-count charge against him and joined Meta and X Corp as co-defendants.
Sowore was granted N200 million bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja, with strict conditions including two sureties and deposit of his international passport. He has consistently maintained that his prosecution is linked to his activism and his plans for the 2027 election.
Free Speech vs Public Safety Debate
The DJ Chicken case has split public opinion. Supporters argue that his comments were clearly hyperbolic and made in the context of online banter. They point to his immediate retraction and apology as proof there was no real intent to harm.
Critics, however, insist that threats against public figures, even as jokes, must be taken seriously and demand accountability. The prosecution argued that the statements constituted a criminal threat and violated the Cybercrime Act.
The DSS has previously told a Federal High Court that social media posts referring to President Tinubu as a “criminal” generated tension and threatened public safety. A DSS official testified that Sowore’s post triggered reactions online and prompted the agency to request takedowns from X and Meta.
A Pattern of Clampdowns on Online Speech
DJ Chicken’s arraignment comes at a time when several Nigerians have faced prosecution for social media posts. The Cybercrimes Act, 2015, and its 2024 amendment have been frequently cited in such cases.
Sowore’s own case highlights the tension. The DSS accused him of publishing false and defamatory statements after he described President Tinubu as a “criminal” in an August 2025 post. The agency also wrote to X demanding the urgent deactivation of Sowore’s verified account.
Sowore refused to delete the post, stating: “One option I will NOT be taking is deleting that Tweet”. He has framed both his case and DJ Chicken’s as part of a wider crackdown on dissent ahead of 2027.
For now, DJ Chicken remains in Kirikiri despite being granted bail, as he works to meet the surety requirements. With Sowore offering support, it is expected that legal and financial assistance will be mobilized to meet the conditions before the August 3 adjournment.The case will likely test how Nigerian courts balance freedom of expression with laws on cybercrime and threats.
For Sowore, it is also another chapter in his long-running confrontation with state authorities, one he says will not silence his push for “liberation” and “Revolution Now”.
As the hashtag #FreeDJChicken continues to trend, the entertainer’s fate and Sowore’s intervention have turned a TikTok rant into a national conversation about the limits of speech, the power of the internet, and the state’s response in an election season.
