By 
By Osasome C.O
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to pursue the arrest and prosecution of individuals behind a fake X (formerly Twitter) account impersonating its Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, following a comprehensive forensic investigation that fully exonerated him.
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The development comes after weeks of online controversy triggered by viral screenshots alleging that the INEC Chairman operated an X account (@joashamupitan) and made a partisan post reading, “Victory is sure.”
Viral Claims Spark Disinformation Concerns
The controversy escalated after additional screenshots circulated across social media platforms, purporting to link Prof. Amupitan to the account through emails, phone numbers, BVN records, and alleged data breach evidence. These claims were widely shared before undergoing verification.
However, INEC has described the episode as a coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at undermining public trust in the electoral body.
Forensic Investigation Clears INEC Chairman
In a statement issued in Abuja, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Adedayo Oketola, disclosed that the Commission commissioned an independent, multi-layered forensic investigation conducted by cybersecurity experts.
According to the findings, Prof. Amupitan does not operate any personal X account. The investigation relied on platform-level data from X, open-source intelligence (OSINT) tools, internet archive records, identity forensics, and cross-platform analysis.
“The claims are fabricated, technically impossible, and part of a coordinated impersonation effort,” the report concluded.
Key Findings: Evidence of Fabrication and Impersonation
The forensic report highlighted several critical inconsistencies:
- The disputed X account was created in September 2022 but has no link to the Chairman’s verified email addresses, phone numbers, or official institutional contacts.
- Timestamp analysis showed that the alleged reply “Victory is sure” appeared 13 minutes before the original post it supposedly responded to—an impossibility on any digital platform.
- Investigators confirmed that the alleged reply does not exist on the live X platform or in any archived records.
- The Internet Archive (Wayback Machine) revealed no trace of the account or its activities prior to April 2026.
Coordinated Multi-Platform Impersonation Uncovered
Investigators also identified a deliberate impersonation pattern. On the same day the screenshots went viral, the disputed account was renamed from @joashamupitan to @sundayvibe00, switched to private, and labelled a “Parody Account.”
According to the report, this sudden change suggests an attempt to erase digital traces. In addition, at least seven fake accounts using the Chairman’s identity were discovered on Facebook and Instagram, reinforcing evidence of a coordinated, multi-platform disinformation campaign.
No Technical Link to Phone, Email, or BVN
INEC further debunked claims that the fake account was tied to Prof. Amupitan through BVN, phone number, or email records. Investigators clarified that while the Chairman’s phone number is validly registered, such records do not establish ownership or control of any social media account.
Multiple recovery and verification attempts through X platform tools failed to link the account to any official identity associated with the INEC Chairman.
INEC Refers Case to Security Agencies
INEC confirmed that the matter has been formally referred to law enforcement agencies for investigation and prosecution under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act.
“The forensic evidence is comprehensive, multi-sourced, and unambiguous. The account is a clear case of impersonation,” the statement said.
The Commission also urged the public and media organisations to refrain from sharing unverified screenshots and to apply strict verification standards before publication.
Call for Stronger Platform Safeguards
INEC called on social media platforms to strengthen rapid-response mechanisms against impersonation of public officials, warning that advances in artificial intelligence have made digital manipulation more sophisticated.
The Commission reaffirmed that Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan does not operate any personal social media account and that all official communications will continue to be issued exclusively through verified INEC channels.
