The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has denied operating any personal account on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
He dismissed a viral claim that he endorsed a partisan post on the platform as a fabrication of mischief.
In a statement on Friday in Abuja by his chief press secretary and media adviser, Mr Adedayo Oketola, the INEC boss said the allegation was baseless, total fabrication, and a figment of the imagination of its purveyors.
“The Commission wishes to state categorically that this allegation is entirely baseless, a total fabrication, and a figment of the imagination of its purveyors. For the avoidance of doubt, the INEC Chairman does not own or operate any personal account on X. He has at no time engaged in partisan commentary, nor has he ever associated himself with any political leaning or activity in his private or public capacity.
“This contrived X post is a desperate attempt to impugn the integrity and neutrality of the Chairman at a critical period when the Commission is focused on significant electoral reforms and preparations for upcoming polls. It is a needless distraction designed to stir public distrust in the electoral umpire.
“Beyond this partisan mischief, the Commission is aware that cybercriminals have been on the prowl, utilising fake social media accounts in the Chairman’s name to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians. We wish to place it on record that several of such fraudulent accounts had been identified and reported to security agencies in the past.
“This latest fabrication is merely a continuation of a criminal pattern aimed at exploiting the Commission’s profile for illicit gains,” Oketola said.
He said that the commission will not fold its arms while the character of its leadership is being assassinated by digital imposters and mischief-makers.
He said, “We wish to notify the public that we are working in close collaboration with relevant security agencies and cyber-intelligence units to track and identify the individuals or groups behind this identity theft and misinformation.
“Let it be clearly understood that the Commission will ensure that these imposters face the full wrath of the law. Identity theft and the dissemination of deepfake or forged social media interactions are criminal offenses under the Cybercrimes Act.”
He warned that those responsible for this mischief will be tracked and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others who believe the digital space is a safe haven for criminality.
“The general public is hereby urged to disregard this falsehood in its entirety. We will continue to disseminate official information regarding the Commission and the Chairman’s activities only through our verified institutional channels and formal press statements.
“The Commission remains undeterred and fully committed to its mandate of delivering free, fair, and credible elections for all Nigerians,” Oketola said.
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