Pressure mounts on INEC chairman over alleged link to partisan X account
Fresh controversy has erupted around the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Amupitan, following findings linking him to an X account that allegedly posted partisan content before and after the 2023 general elections.
The development has intensified calls from civil society groups, political parties and concerned individuals demanding his resignation, citing concerns over neutrality and the credibility of the electoral body ahead of future polls.
The account, previously identified as @joashamupitan, reportedly contained posts perceived as supportive of the ruling All Progressives Congress and its presidential candidate at the time, Bola Tinubu. Some of the posts included remarks interpreted as endorsements of party figures and electoral outcomes during the 2023 elections.
Although INEC, through its Chief Press Secretary Adedayo Oketola, dismissed the account as fake, a fact-check investigation revealed that the handle had existed since September 2022 with a consistent digital footprint before it was renamed, locked and later labelled a parody account in April 2026 amid the controversy.
Analysis of archived posts showed messages written in a tone consistent with official communication, with some attributed to “Prof. J.O. Amupitan (SAN).” Investigators also confirmed that while usernames on X can change, account user IDs remain constant, allowing the tracking of the account’s history despite modifications.
However, claims linking the account to the INEC chairman through phone number verification and two-factor authentication remain inconclusive, as such data cannot be independently verified using open-source intelligence tools.
Responding to the allegations, Amupitan, through his media aide, denied any connection to the account, insisting that he does not operate any X handle and has maintained political neutrality in both his public and private engagements.
Despite the denial, opposition parties including factions of the Peoples Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress have accused the INEC chairman of bias, arguing that his continued stay in office could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
The PDP faction led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki described Amupitan as “unpretentious in his partisanship,” urging him to resign to preserve the integrity of the commission, while the ADC warned of possible civil disobedience if he fails to step down.
Civil society organisations have also joined the calls, stressing that the controversy, regardless of its final outcome, poses a significant threat to public trust in elections. Advocacy groups and legal experts noted that the credibility of the electoral umpire depends not only on actual neutrality but also on the perception of fairness.
While some stakeholders stopped short of demanding his resignation, they urged the INEC chairman to act in a manner that reassures Nigerians of the commission’s independence.
The controversy comes amid growing scrutiny of Nigeria’s electoral system, with observers warning that unresolved questions surrounding leadership credibility could impact confidence in the 2027 general elections.
