INEC Chairman Denies Owning Pro-Tinubu X Account

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has denied owning or operating an X account allegedly associated with partisan comments supporting President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The commission maintained that the disputed account was fraudulent and that its chairman had never engaged in partisan political commentary or publicly associated himself with any political party.

INEC's Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, said the allegations were part of a coordinated campaign aimed at undermining the credibility and neutrality of the electoral umpire ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The controversy followed the circulation of screenshots allegedly showing an account bearing Amupitan's name reacting to a pro-APC post with the words, “Victory is sure.”

The disputed account reportedly changed its username after the controversy emerged, while claims linking it to the chairman's personal contact details also circulated online.

However, INEC said an independent forensic and cybersecurity investigation had established that the account was not operated by Amupitan.

The commission said the investigation examined digital records, platform data and other technical evidence, concluding that the disputed account was a case of impersonation.

It also warned that cybercriminals had been creating fake social media accounts in the chairman's name to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.

INEC said several fraudulent accounts had been identified and reported to security agencies, adding that efforts were ongoing to track down those responsible for the impersonation and dissemination of fabricated online interactions.

The commission urged Nigerians to disregard unverified screenshots and obtain official information about the chairman and its activities only through verified institutional channels.

It reaffirmed its commitment to conducting free, fair and credible elections, insisting that the controversy would not distract it from its constitutional responsibilities.