INEC dismisses fake X post alleging Amupitan’s political endorsement

The Independent National Electoral Commission has refuted claims that its Chairman, Joash Amupitan, endorsed a partisan post on X, calling the allegation false and misleading. In a statement released Friday by the Chief Press Secretary to the chairman, Adedayo Oketola, the commission described the report as part of a “malicious and coordinated campaign” to discredit the electoral body. INEC clarified that the chairman does not operate a personal X account and has never engaged in partisan commentary. The commission stated that this alleged post is a deliberate attempt to undermine the chairman's credibility and neutrality. INEC also expressed concern about cybercriminals using fake social media accounts in the chairman’s name to defraud Nigerians, noting that several such accounts have been reported to security agencies. The commission is working with security agencies to identify and prosecute those behind the alleged impersonation and misinformation, emphasizing that identity theft and disseminating forged social media interactions are criminal offenses under the Cybercrimes Act. INEC urged the public to disregard the claim and rely only on verified channels for official information, reaffirming its commitment to delivering credible elections.