By Caleb Ishaya
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has reportedly deactivated the account of human rights activist and politician, Omoyele Sowore.
A recent search indicates that Sowore’s Facebook profile is no longer accessible, following a series of critical posts he made targeting Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate.
While Meta has yet to officially state the reason for the deactivation, the move has sparked concern among Sowore’s supporters. Many have taken to social media to appeal for the reinstatement of his account, citing potential political bias.
One such supporter, Emmanuel Larry, has formally written to Facebook, urging the platform to restore Sowore’s profile. In his message titled “Urgent Request for Account Reinstatement of Omoyele Sowore,” he stated:
“I am reaching out to urgently request the immediate restoration of the Facebook account of Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore), a prominent Nigerian human rights advocate, journalist, and political figure.
His account was recently deactivated without any prior notice or clear justification. We are deeply concerned that this may be a result of political pressure or bias, especially given his outspoken stance on justice and democratic reform.
As a global platform, Meta/Facebook has a responsibility to protect freedom of expression, not suppress it. The removal of Mr. Sowore’s account raises serious questions about the platform’s neutrality and its commitment to democratic values.”
Larry’s appeal calls for three key actions from Meta:
Immediate reinstatement of Omoyele Sowore’s Facebook account.
A transparent explanation for the account’s deactivation.
A public commitment from Meta to uphold political neutrality and safeguard the voices of activists.
He concluded with a warning that if the issue is not addressed promptly, further legal and civic action may be pursued.
“Silencing a human rights advocate through account deactivation amounts to censorship,” he wrote. “We are prepared to escalate this matter through appropriate legal and international channels if necessary.”
As of now, Meta has not issued an official response regarding the situation.
