Fact-Check Bombshell: INEC Chair Linked To Controversial Account Amid Resignation Calls

The findings, published by Daily Trust, have sparked concerns among political parties, civil society groups, and members of the public over the perceived neutrality of the electoral body.

Critics argue that posts linked to the account appeared to favour the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Bola Tinubu.

They insist that any indication of bias by the INEC chairman could erode public trust and compromise his role as an impartial referee in Nigeria’s electoral process.

Controversial posts raise concerns

The account allegedly linked to Amupitan featured several posts during the election period that were interpreted as supportive of the APC.

For instance, on March 17, 2023, it responded to a discussion about supporters of Labour Party candidate Peter Obi with a remark that drew criticism.

The following day, the account reportedly replied “Victory is sure” to a post by APC National Youth Leader Dayo Israel.

In another instance on April 25, 2023, it reacted to a pro-Tinubu post with the word “Asiwaju,” a title commonly associated with Tinubu.

Digital footprint traced

Investigators found that the account, identified by user ID 1567086242164101120, was created on September 6, 2022, initially using the handle @joashamupitan.

Amid the recent controversy, the account was reportedly renamed @Sundayvibe00 on April 10, 2026, locked, and later marked as a “Parody Account.”

Analysts noted that while usernames can change, user IDs remain constant, allowing the account’s activity to be traced over time.

A separate account later appeared using the same @joashamupitan handle, raising questions about whether it was a case of impersonation or handle reuse.

Phone link claims unverified

The investigation also explored claims that the account’s security settings were tied to a phone number allegedly linked to Amupitan.

However, investigators said there was no independent forensic evidence to confirm this connection.

Denial and official response

Responding through his media aide, Amupitan denied any involvement, stating that he does not operate any account and has never made partisan statements online.

He maintained that he remains politically neutral in both his public duties and private life.

INEC, in a statement signed by its Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, described the account as fake, noting that it had undergone several changes over time.

Fact-check conclusion

The investigation concluded that there is credible evidence linking the controversial posts to an account that once operated under the @joashamupitan handle with a consistent digital history.

However, the emergence of a new account with the same handle and the absence of definitive technical proof linking it directly to Amupitan made final attribution uncertain.

Based on the available findings, the claim connecting the account to the INEC chairman was rated “mostly true.”