Akpabio defends Amupitan, says tweet linked to him neutral

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has defended the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, over allegations of partisan bias linked to a resurfaced social media post.

Akpabio spoke on Tuesday during the inauguration of the corporate headquarters of the National Revenue Service in Abuja, where he dismissed claims that the post suggested political alignment.

He said: “Then they changed and said, okay, let us attack the people going to do the election. And they brought out a tweet where they said, the chairman of INEC said victory is sure.

“But he didn’t say victory is sure for APC.

“He did not say victory is sure for PDP.

“He just said victory is sure.”

Akpabio added that the context of the statement had been misrepresented and linked to a period before Amupitan assumed office.

He said: “And the man said that it’s manipulated.

“Nobody wants to hear. But for me, whether it is manipulated or not, he said victory is sure.

“He was not chairman of INEC.

“He was just a mere lecturer.

“Anybody can support anybody who he wishes to.”

He stressed the need for neutrality in public office.

He said: “But when you are on a seat, you have to think of the entire country and all the populace.

“And that’s what they are doing.”

The controversy stems from a 2023 post originally shared by APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, which resurfaced online and was linked by critics to an account allegedly associated with the INEC chairman.

The post read: “Today I rejoice, not just for delivering my polling unit, but for winning 7 of the 10 polling units in my nearby Igbo-dominated community where APC have never won.

“I sat with the youth of the community and forged a partnership.”

It later circulated alongside claims that an account bearing the chairman’s name responded with the phrase “Victory is sure,” prompting allegations of partisanship.

INEC has dismissed the claims, maintaining that the chairman does not operate any personal X account and has not engaged in partisan political commentary.

Further addressing the issue, INEC ICT Director, Lawrence Bayode, said the commission would not rely on artificial intelligence analysis or screenshots in its investigation.

He said the commission is working with security agencies and external forensic experts to verify the authenticity of the accounts and content involved, as part of efforts to safeguard public confidence in the electoral process.