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By Lawrence Agbo
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, is facing scrutiny over an X account allegedly linked to him that posted partisan content supporting the All Progressives Congress during the 2023 general election.
INEC has denied the claims, insisting Amupitan does not own or operate any personal X account and has never engaged in partisan commentary.
The commission described the allegations as a “malicious and coordinated campaign of calumny” aimed at undermining its neutrality.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, SDP 2023 presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo and tech expert Gbenga Sesan offered differing views on the controversy.
Adebayo said digital content can be manipulated, but ownership can be traced forensically. He noted the issue could be resolved through a court challenge or a National Assembly investigation.
“It is well known that in the digital space, you could manipulate anything, but there is forensic tracing of identity.
“It is either someone will go to court to challenge his qualification on grounds of partisanship and present evidence or the National Assembly will conduct an investigation, possibly through its INEC committees,” he said.
Adebayo added that even if the account belonged to Amupitan, it would not automatically disqualify him, as the law only bars party membership at the time of appointment.
However, he stressed that denying ownership if proven would raise integrity concerns.
“If it is traced to him and he denies it, then it raises questions about integrity,” he said.
“In a simple matter like this, if you are already lying to the public and we are to trust you with determining election outcomes, then it becomes a question of integrity.”
“The requirement is that at the time of appointment, you should not be a member of any political party.
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“It does not mean you could not have been a member in the past or that you did not vote. Someone who voted in 2023 can still become INEC chairman in 2025,” Adebayo stated.
“In a simple matter like this, if you are already lying to the public and we are to trust you with determining election outcomes, then it becomes a question of integrity,” he added.
The tech expert, Sesan, questioned INEC’s outright denial and pointed to digital archives as evidence that an account bearing Amupitan’s name once existed.
“The counter from INEC is that he never had a Twitter account. But when a public institution denies something, you have to ask more questions,” he said.
“Anyone can check web archives, such as the Wayback Machine, which stores snapshots of web pages over time. I found records linked to the handle ‘joash amupitan’,” he added.
He explained that account creation requires access to a registered email or phone number for verification, suggesting ownership could be established. He criticised INEC’s response as counterproductive.
“The reality is that you cannot use someone’s email or phone number to open an account without access to verification messages sent to them,” Sesan said.
“The denial by INEC falls flat, and it is unfortunate. When institutions rush to dismiss issues, they often generate more public interest,” Sesan added.
The controversy has drawn mixed reactions, with some opposition figures and civil society groups demanding further investigation, while others call it politically motivated.
Some social media users have shared screenshots claiming links between the account and details on the chairman’s academic profile.
INEC said cybercriminals often create fake accounts in the names of public officials and that it is working with security agencies to identify those responsible.
Amupitan was nominated by President Tinubu in October 2025 and confirmed by the Senate to succeed Mahmood Yakubu as INEC chief.
