Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has rejected claims that its chairman posted a message supporting the ruling party ahead of the 2023 general election.
The commission said Joash Amupitan does not own or operate any personal account on X, formerly known as Twitter, and described the viral post as false.
The tweet, dated March 2023, appeared to show an account bearing his name responding “Victory is sure” to a post by Dayo Israel, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The post resurfaced online and prompted criticism from some Nigerians, who questioned the neutrality of the electoral commission.
In a statement issued through his spokesman, Adedayo Oketola, Prof Amupitan described the claim as “entirely baseless” and a fabrication.
“He has at no time engaged in partisan commentary, nor associated himself with any political activity in his public or private capacity,” the statement said.
INEC added that the post was an attempt to undermine the credibility of the commission at a time when it is preparing for future elections and implementing electoral reforms.
The commission said it is working with security agencies to identify those responsible for what it described as identity theft and misinformation.
It warned that individuals found to be behind the post could face prosecution under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act.
INEC also urged the public to rely only on verified channels for information about its activities.
