Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has denied a trending screenshot alleging his support for President Bola Tinubu in 2023, describing it as a malicious fabrication and campaign of calumny.
On Friday, a trending screenshot seen by our correspondent on X shows an account allegedly belonging to Mr Amupitan showing support for Mr Tinubu after he was declared as president by INEC in 2023.
However, checks by The Gazette showed that the X account was created in April 2026, and never existed in 2023.
Furthermore, the Gazette contacted the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, who disclosed that Mr. Amupitan “has no X handle.”
“There are a number of fake social media accounts in his name, which we have reported and will eventually be blocked. Amupitan is not running any X account. Members of the public should be careful. Thanks,” he added.
In a follow-up statement titled “INEC CHAIRMAN HAS NO ACCOUNT ON X, DISREGARD PARTISAN FABRICATION,” which was sent to The Gazette on Friday, Mr Oketola said, “The attention of the Office of the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has been drawn to a malicious and coordinated campaign of calumny circulating on social media. The false claim alleges that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has, in the past, endorsed a partisan post on the platform X (formerly Twitter).”
He added that the allegation is entirely baseless, a total fabrication, and a figment of the imagination of its purveyors.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the INEC Chairman does not own or operate any personal account on X. He has at no time engaged in partisan commentary, nor has he ever associated himself with any political leaning or activity in his private or public capacity. This contrived X post is a desperate attempt to impugn the integrity and neutrality of the Chairman at a critical period when the Commission is focused on significant electoral reforms and preparations for upcoming polls. It is a needless distraction designed to stir public distrust in the electoral umpire,” Mr Oketola wrote.
He added that beyond the fabricated post, INEC was aware that cybercriminals have been on the prowl, utilising fake social media accounts in Mr Amupitan’s name to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.
“We wish to place it on record that several of such fraudulent accounts had been identified and reported to security agencies in the past. This latest fabrication is merely a continuation of a criminal pattern aimed at exploiting the Commission’s profile for illicit gains,” he noted.
He added that the electoral commission will not fold its arms while the character of its leadership is being assassinated by digital imposters and mischief-makers.
“We wish to notify the public that 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. Let it be clearly understood that the Commission will ensure that these imposters face the full wrath of the law. Identity theft and the dissemination of deepfake or forged social media interactions are criminal offenses under the Cybercrimes Act. Those responsible for this mischief will be tracked and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others who believe the digital space is a safe haven for criminality,” Mr Oketola said.
He further urged the general public is to disregard what he described as a falsehood in its entirety.
“We will continue to disseminate official information regarding the Commission and the Chairman’s activities only through our verified institutional channels and formal press statements. The Commission remains undeterred and fully committed to its mandate of delivering free, fair, and credible elections for all Nigerians,” he added.