INEC: Cybercriminals, not Chairman, behind partisan X accounts targeting Nigerians

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has moved to quash circulating claims that its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, is partisan, saying the allegations are based on fraudulent social media accounts created by cybercriminals to mislead and defraud the public.

In a statement released on Friday, April 10, 2026, the Commission described reports suggesting the Chairman endorsed partisan posts on X (formerly Twitter) as entirely baseless and malicious fabrications. INEC clarified that the Chairman does not own or operate any personal account on X and has never engaged in partisan commentary or political activity in any capacity.

“The contrived X posts are a deliberate attempt to impugn the integrity and neutrality of the Chairman, at a critical period when the Commission is focused on electoral reforms and preparations for upcoming polls,” the statement said.

INEC further warned that cybercriminals  have created fake accounts in the Chairman’s name to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians. The Commission said several such accounts had previously been identified and reported to security agencies, and this latest incident is a continuation of a pattern of digital mischief and fraud.

The Commission confirmed it is working closely with security and cyber-intelligence agencies to track and identify the perpetrators. INEC emphasized that identity theft, deepfake, and forged social media interactions are criminal offenses under the Cybercrimes Act, and those responsible will be prosecuted.

Members of the public were urged to ignore the fake accounts entirely and to rely only on official INEC channels for verified information about the Commission and its Chairman.

The statement concluded by reaffirming INEC’s commitment to delivering free, fair, and credible elections for all Nigerians.