NANS backs DSS decision to pause Sowore’s trial ahead of 2027 election
By Boye Oyeyemi
The National Association of Nigerian Students has thrown its weight behind the decision of the Department of State Services to suspend the prosecution of the African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, until after the 2027 general election.
NANS National President, Babatunde Akinteye, disclosed the students’ position on Monday at a press briefing in Akure, Ondo State, where he said the move would help preserve confidence in the electoral process.
Akinteye argued that allowing the case to continue during the electioneering period could place Sowore at a disadvantage by distracting him from his campaign activities.
According to him, the DSS acted within the limits of its authority by temporarily halting the prosecution, stressing that the agency had no power to dictate to the judiciary how proceedings should be conducted.
He said, “The DSS has done what is necessary because it does not have the power to tell the judiciary how to do their work. They are prosecutors, not the judiciary that will determine how the process should be.”
Akinteye stressed that the suspension did not amount to the withdrawal or dismissal of the charges, noting that the Federal Government would retain the option of deciding the next step in the case after the election.
He said NANS supported the decision because Sowore, as a presidential candidate, should be allowed to participate in the 2027 contest without what he described as avoidable institutional distractions.
The students’ body further urged key stakeholders, including the Federal Government, security agencies, and political parties to ensure a level playing field for all candidates, saying the credibility of the 2027 election would depend largely on institutional neutrality, respect for democratic rights and the freedom of Nigerians to choose their leaders.
