INEC Dismisses Chairman’s Alleged Partisan Posts as Digital Impersonation

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified that recent controversial social media posts attributed to its chairman, Joash Amupitan, are part of a digital impersonation scheme targeting the electoral body.

Lawrence Bayode, INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, made the Commission’s position known during an interview on Channels TV on Monday. He was responding to resurfaced posts from an account falsely linked to Mr Amupitan.

“Based on the official statement issued by the Commission sometime last week, the Chairman does not maintain any personal X account. Therefore, any content being attributed to such an account is not recognised by the Commission as originating from it,” Mr Bayode stated.

He further noted that the issue extends beyond one individual, warning that misinformation and impersonation are increasingly being used to undermine public institutions.

“For me, this is not about an individual. This is about how digital impersonation and misinformation can target public institutions,” he said, adding that citizens must remain vigilant and verify facts. “Our duty is to protect truth, verify facts, and ensure Nigerians are not misled. Why? Because in a democracy, trust must be earned.”

The controversy began with a 2023 post originally shared by APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, in which he celebrated electoral gains in an Igbo-dominated community. The post later resurfaced alongside claims that an account bearing the INEC chairman’s name had interacted with it, including a reply that read, “Victory is sure.”

In a statement issued on Friday, INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, described the allegations as “false, baseless and misleading.” The Commission reiterated that Mr Amupitan does not operate any personal X account and has never engaged in partisan commentary.

INEC also described the viral screenshot as part of a coordinated misinformation campaign aimed at discrediting the electoral body. It warned that cybercriminals are using fake accounts and impersonation tactics to mislead the public, and added that it is working with security agencies to track those responsible.