The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has strongly denied claims that it copied a press statement from Dada Olusegun, a Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on New Media.

The commission described the reports as fake, misleading, and a clear misrepresentation of the facts.

The controversy started after INEC reposted a statement that debunked rumours about its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan. The statement, signed by the Chairman’s Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, made it clear that the INEC boss does not own any personal account on X (formerly Twitter) and has never engaged in partisan activities. It warned the public about cybercriminals using fake accounts in his name.

Some online reports claimed that Dada Olusegun had posted a very similar statement hours earlier. This led to accusations that INEC simply copied the content from the presidential aide instead of writing its own. Many people on social media reacted by questioning the commission’s independence and suggesting possible coordination with the Presidency.

In its response, INEC explained that the statement was originally released by the commission. It said any circulation of the content outside its official channels was done independently and not coordinated by INEC. The commission stressed that its action was only meant to amplify accurate information and should not be seen as alignment with any individual or political office.

INEC reaffirmed its commitment to remaining strictly non-partisan. It urged Nigerians to always rely on its verified official channels for correct information and to ignore misleading stories.

The commission warned that such false reports can damage public trust in electoral bodies.

This development comes amid growing scrutiny of INEC’s leadership ahead of future elections. Many Nigerians continue to watch closely how the commission handles issues of independence and transparency. For now, INEC has made it clear that it stands by its own statements and processes.