- Past Tweets And Digital Records Raise Fresh Concerns Over Electoral Neutrality
- As INEC Chair Dismisses Allegations, Partisanship
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing a growing credibility crisis following the emergence of forensic digital evidence allegedly linking its Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The controversy stems from findings that include a pro-APC social media post during the 2023 elections and a digital trail connecting an X (formerly Twitter) account to the Chairman’s personal email and phone number, contradicting his earlier denial of operating any social media account.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the development has triggered widespread criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups, many of whom are now calling for Amupitan’s resignation, citing concerns over the neutrality of the electoral umpire ahead of the 2027 general elections.
- Past Tweets And Digital Records Raise Fresh Concerns Over Electoral Neutrality
The controversy centres on an X (formerly Twitter) account bearing the handle @joashamupitan.
In March 2023, during the Lagos State governorship elections, APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel posted a celebratory message, boasting that the party had won 10 of 7 polling units in an “Igbo-dominated community” where the APC had historically struggled.
In response, the @joashamupitan account wrote: “Victory is sure!”
The interaction, widely reported at the time, resurfaced in April 2026, triggering a firestorm of criticism. While INEC swiftly dismissed the post as a fabrication, open-source intelligence (OSINT) investigations have cast serious doubt on that denial.
According to an investigation by Peoples Gazette, the X account was registered using the email address amupitanj@yahoo.com.
OSUN DEFENDER further learnt from the report that the same email address appears on a curriculum vitae attributed to Professor Amupitan from his time as a Professor at the University of Jos, alongside his former institutional email.
Yahoo’s verification process further linked the email to the phone number 08035074099, which is also associated with an OPay account bearing the username “Joash Ojo Amupitan.”
OPay account details typically include a customer’s phone number without the initial zero; in this case, 8035074099 is listed under that full name.
- ADC, Others Allege Political Bias
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been among the most vocal critics, describing the revelations as a “grave affront” to Nigeria’s electoral integrity.
The party also accused INEC of political interference, particularly in its handling of the party’s leadership dispute and its derecognition of the David Mark-led NWC.
According to the ADC, the commission’s decision to remove Mark and his executives’ names from its portal was politically motivated and aimed at weakening opposition forces ahead of 2027.
ADC spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi said more troubling was his alleged desperate attempt to tamper with digital records and erase evidence of his previous partisanship.
He insisted that a man who manipulates records to save himself cannot be trusted to safeguard the mandate of millions.
The X post titled ‘Why Amupitan Must Resign’ read, “In a democracy, the umpire must be above suspicion. He must not only be independent, he must be seen, beyond any reasonable doubt, to be independent. That is the minimum standard required of anyone entrusted with the sacred duty of conducting free and fair elections….
“This is not a trivial matter. It is a calculated assault on truth and accountability.
“Over the past few days, it has been repeatedly revealed that Professor Amupitan, by his conduct, his utterances, and now by incontrovertible digital evidence, has fallen far below the standard expected of an electoral umpire. The referee cannot be running around in the shirt of one of the teams he’s supposed to officiate in a match.
“This is why Professor Amupitan must resign now. Anything less is an insult to the Nigerian people and a dangerous precedent for our democracy,” Abdullahi said.
Similarly, civil society group Opposition Watch Nigeria alleged that the INEC Chairman had undisclosed dealings with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, including claims of land allocation in Abuja.
- Legal and Civil Society Reactions
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has also weighed in on the matter, warning INEC and judicial actors against interfering in internal party affairs.
NBA President, Afam Osigwe, cited provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and urged the Commission to act with utmost neutrality, independence and fidelity to democratic values.
Osigwe’s statement reads, ““This emerging trend of subverting the clear letters of the Electoral Act and dragging courts into the internal affairs of political parties through disingenuous litigation, forum shopping, and malafide applications designed to secure undemocratic political advantage, bodes no good for our democracy.”
The NBA said it would not hesitate to initiate disciplinary action against lawyers found culpable, including filing petitions before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
It also urged the judiciary to exercise restraint and avoid being drawn into political disputes expressly barred by law, stressing the need for strict adherence to statutory provisions.
In addition, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) reiterated earlier concerns about Amupitan’s appointment, alleging it was politically influenced.
- As INEC Chair Dismisses Allegations, Partisanship
In a reaction, INEC denied all claims of partisanship.
In a statement by Amupitan’s Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, the commission described the allegations as entirely baseless and maintained that Amupitan does not own or operate any X account.
The commission further claimed that fraudulent accounts had been created in the Chairman’s name by cybercriminals and vowed to work with security agencies to bring those responsible to justice.
INEC also rejected calls for Amupitan’s removal, insisting that his tenure is constitutionally protected and that the allegations are politically motivated.
- Concerns Over 2027 Elections
Despite the denials, the controversy has heightened public debate over the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
Analysts who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER warned that sustained allegations against the electoral body’s leadership could erode public trust ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Opposition parties also have threatened further action, including petitions to international bodies and possible nationwide protests if the situation is not addressed.
They argued that this digital footprint, connecting the X account to the Chairman’s personal Yahoo email, his academic CV, and a financial account in his full name, makes INEC’s claim of impersonation difficult to sustain.
