The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed viral claims that its chairman, Joash Amupitan, operates a personal account on X (formerly Twitter), describing it as a case of digital impersonation.
In an official statement, the commission revealed that it carried out a detailed forensic investigation after screenshots surfaced online alleging that the chairman made a partisan post.
According to INEC, the probe involved platform data analysis, internet archives, identity forensics, and independent cybersecurity review — all pointing to one conclusion: the account is fake.
One of the major red flags?
A supposed reply made in 2026 appeared 13 minutes before the original post, exposing clear manipulation.
INEC further revealed that the account in question was created in 2022 with no connection to the chairman’s verified email or identity. Shortly after the controversy went viral, the handle was reportedly renamed, made private, and tagged as a parody — a move the commission described as a “damage-control tactic.”
The investigation also uncovered multiple fake social media accounts across platforms using the chairman’s name and photos, suggesting a coordinated impersonation effort.
INEC stressed that there is no link whatsoever between the chairman and the alleged account, adding that claims tying his email or phone number to it are baseless.
Describing the situation as a deliberate disinformation campaign, the commission warned Nigerians against spreading unverified content, especially in an era of AI manipulation and digital fraud.
The case has now been handed over to law enforcement agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act.
