Fact-Check Links INEC Chair To Controversial 𝕏 Account Amid Resignation Calls

A fact-check has revealed a possible link between the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, and an 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) account that posted partisan comments during the 2023 elections, intensifying calls for his resignation.

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The findings emerged in an investigation conducted by Daily Trust as political parties, civil society organisations, and individuals questioned the neutrality of the electoral umpire.

Critics have argued that alleged comments linked to the account suggested sympathy for the All Progressives Congress and its presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Bola Tinubu.

Groups demanding the INEC chairman’s resignation said such alleged public expressions of bias undermine confidence in the electoral body.

They argued that the law professor’s perceived partisanship compromises his ability to act as an impartial arbiter in Nigeria’s electoral process.

Controversial Posts Surface

An 𝕏 account reportedly linked to Amupitan contained several comments interpreted as supportive of the APC during the 2023 election period.

On March 17, 2023, while reacting to a claim circulating online about supporters of Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, the account posted: “They are evil in the 24th century.”

In another post on March 18, 2023, responding to a message by the APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, the account reportedly replied: “Victory is sure.”

Similarly, on April 25, 2023, when a pro-Tinubu account celebrated the reception the president received at the Abuja airport, the account responded with a single word: “Asiwaju.”

Digital Trail Traced

The investigation showed that the 𝕏 account with user ID 1567086242164101120 was created on September 6, 2022, originally bearing the handle @joashamupitan.

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

Analysts noted that 𝕏 user IDs remain permanent even when usernames change, creating a continuous digital trail linking previous versions of the account.

A new account using the same @joashamupitan handle also appeared shortly after the original account changed its name, raising questions about possible impersonation or handle recycling.

Claims About Phone Link Inconclusive

Investigators also examined claims that the account’s two-factor authentication was linked to a phone number reportedly associated with the INEC chairman.

However, they said such claims could not be independently verified through open-source investigative tools.

“No direct forensic confirmation was obtained linking the phone number to the 𝕏 account,” the report stated.

Reacting through his media aide, Amupitan denied operating the account, insisting that he does not run any X account and has never engaged in partisan commentary.

He also maintained that he remains politically neutral in both public and private capacities.

INEC, in a statement issued by its Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, described the account as “fake,” adding that it had undergone multiple changes.

Verdict Of Fact-Check

The investigation concluded that there is credible evidence that an 𝕏 account previously operated under the handle @joashamupitan, with a consistent digital history and authentic posts.

However, the report noted that the emergence of a new account with the same handle and the lack of verifiable technical links to Amupitan complicate definitive attribution.

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