The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed claims circulating on social media alleging that its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, operates an account on X (formerly Twitter) or has engaged in partisan commentary.
In a press statement issued in Abuja on April 10, 2026, the Commission described the allegation as “entirely baseless” and a deliberate fabrication aimed at tarnishing the Chairman’s reputation and undermining the neutrality of the electoral body.
INEC clarified that Prof. Amupitan does not own or operate any personal account on the platform and has never associated himself with any political activity, either publicly or privately. The Commission emphasized that the viral post attributed to him is fake and part of a coordinated attempt to mislead the public.
According to the statement, the misinformation campaign comes at a critical time when INEC is focused on electoral reforms and preparations for upcoming elections. The Commission warned that such false claims are designed to erode public trust in the institution.
INEC also raised concerns about increasing cyber fraud involving impersonation of the Chairman. It revealed that multiple fake social media accounts created in his name have been used to deceive unsuspecting Nigerians, noting that several of these accounts have already been reported to security agencies.
The Commission stated that it is working with law enforcement and cyber-intelligence units to identify and prosecute those behind the fake accounts and misinformation. It stressed that identity theft and the spread of manipulated or forged digital content are punishable offences under the Cybercrimes Act.
INEC urged the public to disregard the false claims and rely only on verified official channels for information regarding its activities.
Reaffirming its commitment, the Commission said it remains focused on delivering free, fair, and credible elections across Nigeria.
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