KEY POINTS
- Amupitan denies operating the disputed X account allegedly linked to pro-APC posts.
- He says the matter has been reported to the DSS and the Inspector-General of Police.
- The controversy emerged as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
The Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has denied owning or operating an X account allegedly used to express support for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress during the 2023 general elections.
Amupitan addressed the controversy on Thursday during a dialogue at Chatham House in London, organised in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative. The discussion focused on Nigeria’s 2027 elections, democratic development and regional stability.
Responding to questions about whether an independent investigation had established that he was not behind the disputed account, the INEC chairman said the matter had been reported to the Department of State Services and the office of the Inspector-General of Police.
He also said an independent investigative report had been obtained, although he did not provide details of its findings during the discussion. Amupitan maintained that he had never operated an X account and said his attempt to contact the platform over the allegation was unsuccessful because he was not a registered user.
Amupitan says he never operated an X account
The INEC chairman insisted that the account did not belong to him, adding that he regularly used Yahoo Mail for his email correspondence. He also disclosed that some civil society organisations had expressed interest in investigating the controversy.
The allegation has attracted attention because of the constitutional responsibility of INEC to conduct elections and maintain public confidence in the electoral process. The commission is expected to operate independently and administer elections without favouring any political party or candidate.
The controversy therefore raises questions about public perceptions of neutrality, particularly as political activities increase ahead of the 2027 elections.
Amupitan’s denial does not, on its own, settle the dispute over the account’s ownership. The independent report and any findings from the security agencies could provide further information about the allegation.
Electoral credibility remains under scrutiny
The chairman also suggested that the timing of the controversy was intended to discredit him and undermine the electoral commission. He linked the emergence of the allegation to a court ruling concerning the African Democratic Congress and the interpretation of a status quo ante bellum order.
However, the allegation and his response come at a time when INEC faces heightened scrutiny over its leadership, institutional independence and preparations for the next general election.
The commission will be responsible for organising the 2027 polls, a process expected to involve political competition, disputes over party structures and public debate about electoral credibility.
For INEC, maintaining public trust will require transparent communication and confidence that allegations involving its leadership are addressed through credible procedures.Amupitan has maintained that the disputed account was not his and that he has never used the platform.
