The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied claims circulating on social media that its Chairman, Joash Amupitan, operates an account on X (formerly Twitter), describing the allegation as false and politically motivated.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Commission said the purported post attributed to the chairman was “a total fabrication” and part of a coordinated attempt to undermine his neutrality ahead of key electoral activities.
INEC stated that Amupitan “does not own or operate any personal account on X” and has never engaged in partisan commentary, either in his private or official capacity.
The controversy grew after screenshots of a handle bearing Amupitan’s name were shared online by critics who argued that the account had previously posted content seen as politically sympathetic to President Bola Tinubu and the ruling APC. Some users also pointed to responses generated by Grok, X’s built-in artificial intelligence assistant, in arguments over whether the handle had once been associated with the INEC chairman.
The electoral body said the claim was designed to erode public confidence in its leadership at a time when it is implementing electoral reforms and preparing for upcoming polls.
“The false post is a needless distraction intended to stir distrust in the electoral umpire,” the statement said.
INEC also raised concerns over increasing cases of identity theft involving fake social media accounts created in the chairman’s name. It said such accounts have been used by cybercriminals to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
According to the Commission, several of these fraudulent accounts have previously been identified and reported to security agencies, describing the latest incident as part of a broader pattern of digital impersonation.
The Commission said it is working with security agencies and cyber-intelligence units to track those responsible for the alleged misinformation and identity theft.
It warned that offenders would be prosecuted under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act, which criminalises identity theft and the dissemination of manipulated or forged digital content.
INEC urged the public to rely only on its verified institutional channels for official information and to disregard the circulating claims.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to conducting free, fair and credible elections, saying it would not be distracted by attempts to discredit its leadership.
