INEC to Pursue Individuals Behind Fake Social Media Account Attributed to Chairman

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Monday it will pursue legal action against those responsible for creating a fabricated social media account falsely attributed to its Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, following a comprehensive forensic investigation that completely exonerated him.

The controversy erupted when screenshots circulated widely across social media platforms showing an X (formerly Twitter) account with the handle @joashamupitan allegedly posting a partisan comment stating “Victory is sure” in response to another user. The allegations intensified as additional screenshots spread online purporting to show emails, phone numbers, and banking verification numbers (BVN) connecting Professor Amupitan to the account.

“The forensic evidence is comprehensive, multi-sourced and unambiguous. The posts attributed to Prof. Amupitan are fabricated. The account is a clear case of impersonation,” stated INEC in a release signed by Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman.

According to the independent forensic and cybersecurity investigation commissioned by the electoral body, the claims were “fabricated, technically impossible and part of a coordinated disinformation campaign.” The investigation utilized multiple verification methods, including X platform data analysis, open-source intelligence tools, internet archive records, and timestamp verification.

One of the most damning findings revealed a physical impossibility in the alleged interaction: the purported “Victory is sure” reply was posted 13 minutes before the original message it supposedly responded to. “This is physically impossible on any digital platform,” the report emphasized, adding that the alleged reply “has never existed on X” and appears in neither live threads nor historical records.

Further undermining the claims, investigators found the disputed account was created in September 2022 but had no connection to Professor Amupitan’s known email addresses or official institutional contacts. The Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine showed no trace of the account or activity attributed to it before April 2024.

In what investigators described as a “deliberate impersonation pattern,” the account was suddenly renamed from @joashamupitan to @sundayvibe00 on the same day the screenshots went viral. It was also set to private mode and tagged as a “Parody Account” – actions consistent with an attempt to cover digital tracks after perpetrating impersonation.

The investigation also identified at least seven fake social media accounts across Facebook and Instagram linked to similar misuse of the INEC Chairman’s identity, suggesting a “multi-platform coordinated impersonation effort.”

Claims that the account was connected to Professor Amupitan through email, phone number, or BVN records were similarly debunked. While confirming the professor’s phone number is validly registered, investigators clarified that “a phone number appearing in BVN records does not establish ownership of a social media account.”

INEC has now referred the case to law enforcement agencies for investigation and potential prosecution under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, which criminalizes online impersonation and the spreading of false information.

The commission warned the public against sharing unverified social media content and urged media organizations to apply strict verification standards before publication. INEC also called on major social media platforms like X, Meta, and Instagram to strengthen their rapid response mechanisms for addressing impersonation of public officials.

The statement reaffirmed that Professor Amupitan does not operate any personal social media accounts, and that all official communications will continue to be issued exclusively through verified INEC channels. “Any account purporting to represent the INEC Chairman should be treated as fraudulent unless confirmed through official sources,” the commission advised.

This incident highlights the growing challenge of digital impersonation and misinformation in Nigeria’s electoral landscape, where social media increasingly shapes public perception of electoral processes and officials. The commission’s decisive response underscores the seriousness with which it views threats to its institutional integrity and the potential impact of disinformation on electoral credibility.