INEC denies Chairman’s alleged partisan X post, vows prosecution
Election, INEC ballot box
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has on Friday dismissed viral social media claims that Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan, endorsed a partisan post on X (formerly Twitter).
In a statement by Adedayo Oketayo, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, the commission called the allegation “entirely baseless, a total fabrication, and a figment of the imagination of its purveyors.”
It stressed that Amupitan “does not own or operate any personal account on X” and has never engaged in partisan activity.
INEC described the fake post as a “desperate attempt to impugn the integrity and neutrality of the Chairman” amid electoral reforms and upcoming polls.
The commission also warned of cybercriminals using fake accounts in Amupitan’s name to defraud Nigerians, noting several have been reported to security agencies.
“We are working in close collaboration with relevant security agencies and cyber-intelligence units to track and identify the individuals or groups behind this identity theft and misinformation,” the statement said.
Offenders face prosecution under the Cybercrimes Act.
INEC urged the public to disregard the claims and rely on verified channels for official updates, reaffirming its commitment to “free, fair, and credible elections.”
