The Office of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission has dismissed as false a viral social media claim alleging that its Chairman, Joash Amupitan, endorsed a partisan post on the platform X (formerly Twitter
The statement which was issued by Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman Adedayo Oketola which states that the Commission described the allegation as malicious, baseless, and a coordinated attempt to discredit the leadership of the electoral body. It stated that the INEC Chairman does not operate any personal account on X and has never engaged in partisan political commentary in any form.
It further explained that the fabricated post was designed to undermine public confidence in the Commission at a critical time when it is focused on electoral reforms and preparations for upcoming elections, adding that it was a deliberate distraction aimed at stirring distrust in the electoral process.
INEC also expressed concern over the activities of cybercriminals who have repeatedly created fake social media accounts in the Chairman’s name to defraud unsuspecting members of the public. It noted that several of such accounts have previously been reported to security agencies, with investigations ongoing.
The Commission warned that individuals behind identity theft and the spread of false information would be tracked and prosecuted under the Cybercrimes Act, stressing that it is working closely with relevant security and cyber-intelligence agencies to identify and bring perpetrators to justice.
It urged the public to disregard the false claims and rely only on verified official communication channels for accurate information, reaffirming its commitment to credible elections in Nigeria.