The Independent National Electoral Commission has said the controversy surrounding alleged partisan posts linked to its chairman is a case of digital impersonation targeting the institution rather than an individual.
INEC’s ICT Director, Lawrence Bayode, stated this in an interview on Channels TV on Monday while reacting to resurfaced social media posts attributed to an account allegedly linked to the commission’s chairman, Joash Amupitan.
“Based on the official statement issued by the Commission sometime last week, the Chairman does not maintain any personal X account. Therefore, any content being attributed to such an account is not recognised by the Commission as originating from it,” he said.
Bayode stressed that the issue goes beyond an individual, warning about the broader implications of misinformation.
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“For me, this is not about an individual. This is about how digital impersonation and misinformation can target public institutions,” he added.
He emphasised the need for vigilance and fact-checking in a democratic system.
“Our duty is to protect truth, verify facts, and ensure Nigerians are not misled. Why? Because in a democracy, trust must be earned,” he said
The controversy stems from a 2023 post circulating online, which critics alleged suggested partisan alignment involving the INEC chairman.
The post was originally shared by APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, who wrote:
“Today I rejoice, not just for delivering my polling unit, but for winning 7 of the 10 polling units in my nearby Igbo-dominated community where APC have NEVER WON… I sat with the youth of the community and forged a partnership.”
The post later resurfaced alongside claims that an account bearing the chairman’s name engaged with it, including a response that read, “Victory is sure.”
INEC, however, dismissed the claims. In a statement issued on Friday by its Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, the commission described the allegation as “false, baseless and misleading.”
It maintained that the chairman does not operate any personal X account and has never engaged in partisan political commentary.
The commission also described the viral screenshot as part of a coordinated misinformation campaign aimed at discrediting the electoral body.