The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to arrest and prosecute individuals responsible for creating a fake X (formerly Twitter) account falsely linked to its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, following a detailed forensic investigation that cleared him of any involvement.

The controversy began after a series of viral posts circulated on social media, alleging that the INEC chairman operated a personal X account used to publish partisan political comments.

The posts sparked widespread debate and raised concerns about the neutrality of the electoral body. However, INEC, in an official statement, dismissed the claims as false and misleading, describing them as part of a coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at undermining public confidence in the Commission.

According to the Commission, a comprehensive forensic analysis was conducted using digital investigative tools, including metadata tracking, timestamp verification, and open-source intelligence techniques.

The findings showed no connection between Prof. Amupitan and the controversial account.

INEC highlighted several inconsistencies uncovered during the investigation, including irregular posting timelines that experts say are technically impossible on social media platforms.

It also noted that the account bore no verified links to the chairman’s known contact details or official digital footprint.

The Commission further revealed that the account exhibited clear signs of impersonation, including sudden changes in username, privacy settings, and classification as a parody account shortly after the issue gained public attention.

Reaffirming its position, INEC stressed that Prof. Amupitan does not operate any personal X account and warned against the spread of unverified information capable of misleading the public.

INEC stated that it is now collaborating with security agencies to identify those behind the fake account, vowing to ensure they are brought to justice.

The Commission emphasized that digital impersonation and misinformation pose serious threats to democratic institutions and electoral integrity.

It urged citizens and media organisations to rely on verified sources when sharing information, especially on issues concerning national institutions.