The Independent National Electoral Commission has dismissed as false a circulating claim alleging that its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, previously endorsed a partisan post on the social media platform X.
In a statement, the Commission described the allegation as a malicious and coordinated campaign of calumny, stressing that it is entirely baseless, fabricated, and a figment of the imagination of those behind it. It clarified that the INEC Chairman does not own or operate any personal account on X and has never engaged in partisan commentary or associated himself with any political leaning in either his private or public capacity.
The Commission stated that the purported post is a deliberate attempt to undermine the integrity and neutrality of its Chairman at a critical time when it is focused on key electoral reforms and preparations for upcoming elections. It added that the development is a distraction intended to erode public trust in the electoral body.
INEC further revealed that beyond the current claim, cybercriminals have been creating fake social media accounts in the Chairman’s name to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians. It noted that several such fraudulent accounts have previously been identified and reported to security agencies, describing the latest incident as a continuation of a pattern of criminal activity aimed at exploiting the Commission’s profile.
The Commission said it is working closely with relevant security agencies and cyber-intelligence units to trace and identify those responsible for the identity theft and dissemination of false information.
It warned that those behind the acts will face the full weight of the law, noting that identity theft and the spread of deepfake or forged social media content are offences under the Cybercrimes Act and will be prosecuted accordingly.
INEC urged the public to disregard the claim and rely only on information released through its verified official channels and formal statements.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections, stating that it remains focused on its constitutional mandate despite attempts to discredit its leadership.
