The Independent National Electoral Commission has distanced itself from a viral X (formerly Twitter) account falsely attributed to its Chairman, Joash Ojo Amupitan, describing the development as part of a coordinated disinformation effort.
In a statement released on Monday in Abuja, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, stated that a detailed forensic investigation confirmed that the chairman does not operate any personal account on X.
Oketola explained that the Commission engaged independent cybersecurity specialists who conducted a multi-layered digital analysis using platform data, internet archive records, open-source intelligence tools, and identity forensics.
He said the findings established that all posts and screenshots linking Amupitan to the handle @joashamupitan were fabricated and lacked technical verification.
“The forensic evidence is comprehensive, multi-sourced, and unambiguous. The posts attributed to the chairman are fabricated. The account is a clear case of impersonation,” he said.
The issue gained attention on April 10, 2026, after posts circulated online alleging that the INEC chairman made a partisan statement, “Victory is sure”, in response to another user, supported by screenshots.
However, INEC said its investigation revealed several inconsistencies suggesting deliberate manipulation.
Among the observations, the Commission noted the absence of any digital connection between the account and the chairman’s verified contact details, while claims linking it to his identity through BVN or financial platforms were described as misleading and logically unsound.
The probe also uncovered a discrepancy in timestamps, indicating that the alleged reply appeared 13 minutes before the original post, a sequence experts say is technically impossible.
Further verification using the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine showed no record of the account prior to April 2026, while real-time checks confirmed that the purported post never existed on the X platform.
INEC added that the account exhibited suspicious activity, including a name change to @sundayvibe00, a switch to private mode, and eventual rebranding as a parody account shortly after the screenshots began circulating widely.
In addition, the Commission identified at least seven fake profiles across Facebook and Instagram impersonating the INEC chairman, pointing to what officials described as a coordinated, cross-platform disinformation campaign.
Oketola cautioned that advances in artificial intelligence have made it easier to create deceptive digital content, urging both the public and media organisations to verify information before dissemination.
“The fact that content goes viral does not make it authentic,” he said, stressing that accuracy must take precedence over speed, especially in matters capable of undermining public trust.
He added that the forensic report has been submitted to law enforcement agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution under the Cybercrimes Act.
INEC reiterated that all official communications are issued solely through its verified platforms, including its website and official social media channels, advising the public to regard any unverified account claiming links to the chairman as fraudulent.
