Prominent socio-political activist Omoyele Sowore has said he would have filed a defamation lawsuit against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu if his name had appeared on the list of recipients for the 2025 Democracy Day National Honours.
On Thursday, President Tinubu announced 102 awardees, honouring both living and deceased Nigerians who have contributed to the country's democratic development.
The list sparked debates, with some Nigerians suggesting that activists like Sowore deserved recognition for their roles in promoting democracy.
However, Sowore, a former presidential candidate, stated in a Facebook post on Friday that he would have rejected any such recognition from the Tinubu administration.
He stressed that not only would he decline the award, but he would also pursue legal action against the president.
"If I were mistakenly included by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his 'National Award' list, I would not only reject and denounce the award but also take definitive legal action for defamation," Sowore wrote.
Sowore has long been a vocal critic of successive Nigerian governments, including the current administration, often accusing them of failing the Nigerian people and betraying democratic ideals.
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