In a post on his X handle (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Sowore described the situation as “governance by tribalism,” calling Tinubu “the worst” in terms of promoting sectional interests over national unity and the rule of law.

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of promoting ethnic favouritism in federal appointments, lamenting that three top security chiefs have remained in office despite exceeding the statutory 35-year service limit.

In a post on his X handle (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Sowore described the situation as “governance by tribalism,” calling Tinubu “the worst” in terms of promoting sectional interests over national unity and the rule of law.

The activist specifically named the following top officials: Kayode Egbetokun – Inspector-General of Police (IGP); Kemi Nandap – Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Bashir Adewale Adeniyi – Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

“These officers in the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, and Nigeria Immigration Service have exceeded the 35-year service limit and should have retired,” Sowore wrote. “But due to tribal favoritism, they remain in office.”

“Their continued stay in service and office is a violation of service rules and a slap at national integrity. This is not governance, it’s ethnic capture,” he added.

The post, tagged ‘GOVERNANCE BY TRIBALISM, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu IS THE WORST!’, was accompanied by the hashtags #RevolutionNow and #TinubuMustGo, signalling Sowore’s continued criticism of the current administration and its policies.

On July 23, 2024, the National Assembly passed the Police Act (Amendment) Bill 2024, which specifically targeted the tenure of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

The bill was initiated by President Bola Tinubu and sent to both chambers of the National Assembly. It swiftly passed through second and third readings in the Senate and House of Representatives on the same day.

The amendment introduced a new subsection, Section 18(8A), which states: “Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (8) of this section, any person appointed to the office of Inspector-General of Police shall remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in the letter of appointment in line with the provisions of Section 7(6) of this Act.”

This amendment effectively overrides the mandatory retirement age of 60 or 35 years of service, allowing IGP Egbetokun, who turned 60 in September 2024, to remain in office until October 31, 2027.

The tenure extension quickly drew sharp criticism from legal experts, civil society groups, and political activists.

For instance, the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) argued that the amendment violates Sections 214–216 of the 1999 Constitution, which govern police appointments and tenure. They insist that only a constitutional amendment can override the retirement provisions.

Similarly, Sowore was arrested and charged with 17 counts of cybercrime after calling Egbetokun an “illegal IGP” on social media. His arrest has been widely condemned as an attack on free speech.

Prominent human rights lawyer Chidi Odinkalu also criticised the speed and secrecy of the bill’s passage, calling it a “dangerous precedent” that undermines democratic norms.

However, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), defended the extension, stating that the amendment was passed before Egbetokun’s retirement date, making it legally valid under the revised Police Act.

On March 31, 2025, President Tinubu approved an extension of Mrs. Nandap’s tenure as the NIS Comptroller-General through December 31, 2026.

Mrs Nandap began her career in the NIS on October 9, 1989.

President Tinubu initially appointed her as Comptroller-General on March 1, 2024, to serve till August 31, 2025.

Adeniyi was appointed as the Comptroller-General of the NCS in June 2023.

Under the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, the appointment and tenure of the CG are at the discretion of the President, subject to public service rules—typically 35 years of service or age 60, whichever comes first.

Activists have condemned the continued stay of Adeniyi in office, noting that it had exceeded the 35-year service limit.

Similarly, the Citizen Initiative for Good Governance (CIGG) recently urged the National Assembly to block any attempt to extend Adeniyi’s tenure. The group accused the customs leadership of fostering corruption, revenue leakages, and promotion based on bribery.

But in April 2025, the NCS publicly denied reports that Adeniyi’s tenure had been extended.

The NCS described the circulating claims—allegedly from the State House—as “inaccurate and misleading”, emphasising that no official directive had been issued regarding any extension.

The agency reiterated that only the President has the authority to extend or renew the CG’s tenure, and no such communication had been received.