Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has dismissed as fake a social media account falsely attributed to its Chairman, Joash Ojo Amupitan, describing it as part of a coordinated disinformation campaign.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, said findings from a detailed forensic investigation confirmed that the INEC Chairman does not operate any personal account on X.
He explained that independent cybersecurity experts carried out a multi-layered digital analysis, using platform data, internet archives, and identity forensics, which showed no link between the Chairman and the disputed handle.
The controversy began on April 10th, when viral posts claimed the Chairman made a partisan comment online. However, the CPS said the investigation revealed clear signs of manipulation and impersonation.
Among the findings, investigators discovered no digital connection between the account and the Chairman’s verified contacts, while a key post attributed to him was time-stamped thirteen minutes before the original message it allegedly replied to an impossibility that points to fabrication.
Further checks also showed no historical record of the account prior to April, while the handle was later renamed and marked as a parody account after the posts went viral.
INEC says at least seven fake accounts across multiple platforms were identified, indicating a coordinated attempt to mislead the public.
Oketola urged Nigerians and media organisations to verify information before sharing, warning that viral content is not always authentic. He added that the forensic report has been forwarded to law enforcement agencies for investigation and possible prosecution under the Cybercrimes Act.
The Commission reaffirmed that all official communication is only released through its verified platforms, advising the public to disregard any unverified accounts claiming to represent its Chairman.