Sowore Challenges 'Tout' Label in Court Confrontation

On October 19, 2026, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, had a confrontation with Barrister Yakubu, who allegedly referred to him as a "tout." Sowore demanded that the lawyer withdraw the insult, arguing that such conduct was inappropriate for a legal practitioner in a courtroom. This incident gained traction among Sowore's supporters and is linked to his ongoing legal issues regarding social media posts from August 25 and 26, 2025, where he labeled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a "criminal." The Department of State Services (DSS) had previously urged Sowore to remove these posts, claiming they violated Nigeria's cybercrime laws.

Sowore refused, asserting his right to express his views. Following a legal notice, the DSS filed a suit in the Federal High Court to determine the legality of calling the President a "criminal," citing breaches of the Cybercrimes Act and Criminal Code Act.