Forensic probe clears INEC Chairman over alleged fake social media account

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will track down and prosecute those behind the creation of a fake X (formerly Twitter) account allegedly linked to its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, following a forensic investigation that cleared him of any wrongdoing.

The controversy began weeks ago after viral screenshots circulated online, claiming that the INEC chairman operated an X handle (@joashamupitan) and made a partisan post, “Victory is sure,” purportedly in response to another user. The claims escalated when additional screenshots emerged, alleging links to email addresses, phone numbers, BVN records, and even data breaches tied to the professor, sparking widespread debate across social media.

However, in a statement issued on Monday by INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, the commission warned the public against the spread of unverified online content and confirmed that a detailed independent forensic and cybersecurity investigation had completely exonerated the chairman.

According to the investigation, which deployed X platform analytics, OSINT tools, internet archive analysis, and timestamp verification, Prof. Amupitan does not operate any personal X account. The report described the alleged account as “a clear case of impersonation,” stating that all posts attributed to him were fabricated and unverifiable.

One of the most striking findings was a technical inconsistency in the viral post, where the alleged reply “Victory is sure” was said to have been posted 13 minutes before the original message it responded to—an impossibility on any digital platform. Investigators also confirmed that the post does not exist on X, either in live records or archived versions.

The forensic review further revealed that the account in question was created in September 2022 but had no linkage to the chairman’s verified email or institutional contacts. It also noted that the Internet Archive showed no trace of the account’s activity before April 2026.

Investigators also discovered that on the same day the screenshots went viral, the account was renamed from @joashamupitan to @sundayvibe00, switched to private mode, and labelled as a parody account, a move the report described as an attempt to erase traces of impersonation.

INEC also dismissed claims that the account was linked to the chairman through email, phone number, or BVN data, stressing that while his phone number is legitimately registered, such records do not establish ownership of any social media account.

The commission confirmed that the matter has now been handed over to security agencies for investigation and prosecution under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, warning that those responsible will face legal consequences.

INEC urged Nigerians, media organisations, and social media users to exercise caution and verify information before sharing, while also calling on platforms such as X, Meta, and Instagram to strengthen their systems against impersonation of public officials.

It reaffirmed that Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan does not operate any personal social media account, adding that all official communication from the commission will continue to come only through verified INEC channels.