Fresh controversy has trailed the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over alleged past social media posts said to suggest partisan sympathy for the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 general elections.
As reported by Daily Trust, the allegations, which have stirred debate online, were dismissed by INEC, which insisted that the electoral chief does not operate any official account on X (formerly Twitter).
The controversy gained momentum after a United States-based Nigerian academic, Farooq Kperogi, published a column claiming that archived posts linked to an X handle bearing Amupitan’s name contained remarks interpreted as supportive of the ruling party and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Kperogi, who also shared excerpts of his column on social media, argued that the purported posts raise questions about perceived neutrality at the helm of Nigeria’s electoral body and went as far as calling for Amupitan’s resignation.
Among the disputed posts attributed to the account was a message reading, “Victory is sure!” in response to a post by APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel.
Another alleged entry described electoral success at a polling unit, with claims of securing multiple polling units in a community where the APC had reportedly never won before.
The claims immediately triggered heated reactions across social media, with users sharply divided over the authenticity of the posts and their implications for INEC’s credibility.
Some commentators insisted that, if verified, the alleged statements raise serious ethical concerns for the occupant of such a sensitive electoral office, arguing that public trust in the commission could be undermined.
Others, however, questioned the basis of the allegations, pointing to changes in the account’s username over time and the absence of conclusive evidence linking it to the INEC chairman.
They warned against drawing firm conclusions without proper verification.
The debate further expanded into broader electoral reform discussions, with some users urging the implementation of longstanding recommendations of the Justice Mohammed Uwais Electoral Reform Committee, particularly those aimed at strengthening INEC’s independence and appointment process.
Amid the controversy, INEC reiterated its denial, describing the claims as false and cautioning against misinformation being circulated through impersonated or fraudulent online accounts.
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, the commission stressed that Amupitan has no personal X account and warned the public to disregard unverified online content.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to credible elections, urging Nigerians to rely only on its verified communication channels as political tensions and online scrutiny continue to mount ahead of future polls.