The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Joash Amupitan has denied endorsing a partisan post on X social media platform, saying he has no account.
Amupitan in a statement issued Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola maintained that he does not operate any social media account.
He noted: “The attention of the Office of the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has been drawn to a malicious and coordinated campaign of calumny circulating on social media.
“The false claim alleges that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has, in the past, endorsed a partisan post on the platform X (formerly Twitter).
“The Commission wishes to state categorically that this allegation is 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.”
Amupitan added that this contrived X post was a desperate attempt to impugn his integrity and neutrality at a critical period when the Commission is focused on significant electoral reforms and preparations for upcoming polls.
He noted that it is a needless distraction designed to stir public distrust in the electoral umpire.
The Chairman maintained: “Beyond this partisan mischief, the Commission is aware that cybercriminals have been on the prowl, utilising fake social media accounts in the Chairman’s name to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.
“We wish to place it on record that several of such fraudulent accounts had been identified and reported to security agencies in the past.
“This latest fabrication is merely a continuation of a criminal pattern aimed at exploiting the Commission’s profile for illicit gains.”
The Commission said it would not fold its arms while the character of its leadership is being assassinated by digital imposters and mischief-makers.
The electoral body notified the public that it was 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.
Amupitan said: “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 commission urged the general public to disregard this falsehood in its entirety, saying it would continue to disseminate official information regarding the Commission and the Chairman’s activities only through verified institutional channels and formal press statements.