INEC talks tough on pro-APC tweets attributed to Amupitan

By Ayorinde Oluokun

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has described allegation that its Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan had in the past, endorsed a partisan post on the X platform as false and malicious.

INEC said this in reaction to an obvious coordinated campaign by the opposition calling for resignation of Amupitan over alleged tweet deemed to be in support of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in the 2023 election.

Amupitan, had allegedly in the tweet which went viral on Friday responded to a post by Dayo Israel, the National Youth leader of APC, assuring him that victory is certain for his party in the election.

In another tweet, Amupitan allegedly condemned the Obidient Movement, supporters of the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi.

The unearthed tweets had led to an obviously coordinated campaign led by supporters of Obi in the social media for sack of Amupitan.

However Amupitan, in a statement by Adedayo Oketola, his Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser categorically stated that he has never operated an X account, describing the claim that he authored the tweets as “entirely baseless, a total fabrication, and a figment of the imagination of its purveyors.”

“For the avoidance of doubt, the INEC Chairman does not own or operate any personal account on X. He has at no time engaged in partisan commentary, nor has he ever associated himself with any political leaning or activity in his private or public capacity,” Oketola said in the statement.

He accused the purveyors of the claim of embarking on “malicious and coordinated campaign of calumny” against Amupitan

Oketola added that the “contrived X post is a desperate attempt to impugn the integrity and neutrality of the Chairman at a critical period when the Commission is focused on significant electoral reforms and preparations for upcoming polls. It is a needless distraction designed to stir public distrust in the electoral umpire.”

He also noted that beyond this “partisan mischief,”cybercriminals have been utilising fake social media accounts in the Chairman’s name to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.

He said several of such fraudulent accounts had been identified and reported to security agencies in the past.

Oketola therefore described the partisan tweet attributed to him as one of such fabrications and “a continuation of a criminal pattern aimed at exploiting the Commission’s profile for illicit gains.”

However, INEC vows that it is already working with security operatives to unmask those behind the alleged fake partisan tweet, vowing that it will not fold its arms “while the character of its leadership is being assassinated by digital imposters and mischief-makers.”

“We wish to notify the public that we are working in close collaboration with relevant security agencies and cyber-intelligence units to track and identify the individuals or groups behind this identity theft and misinformation.

“Let it be clearly understood that the Commission will ensure that these imposters face the full wrath of the law. Identity theft and the dissemination of deepfake or forged social media interactions are criminal offenses under the Cybercrimes Act.

“Those responsible for this mischief will be tracked and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others who believe the digital space is a safe haven for criminality.

“The general public is hereby urged to disregard this falsehood in its entirety. We will continue to disseminate official information regarding the Commission and the Chairman’s activities only through our verified institutional channels and formal press statements.

“The Commission remains undeterred and fully committed to its mandate of delivering free, fair, and credible elections for all Nigerians,” IMEC said in the statement.