X account targeting INEC Chairman fake — CPS

Adedayo Oketola, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, has said that a purported X (formerly Twitter) account attributed to his boss is fake and part of a coordinated disinformation campaign.

Oketola made this known in a statement he issued on Monday.

He said a comprehensive forensic investigation had established that the INEC Chairman does not operate any personal X account.

He said that all posts, replies, and screenshots linking him to the handle: @joashamupitan, were fraudulent and technically impossible.

The controversy, according to the CPS, began on April 10, 2026 when viral social media posts alleged that the Chairman made a partisan comment: “Victory is sure,” in response to another user. 

He noted that the claims were accompanied by screenshots and purported digital records, including email, phone number, and bank verification data, which were widely circulated as proof.

However, Oketola said investigations conducted by the Commission, alongside independent cybersecurity experts, revealed that the claims were entirely false.

He said: “The forensic evidence is comprehensive, multi-sourced, and unambiguous. 

“The posts attributed to Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan on X are fabricated. 

“The account is a clear case of impersonation.”

Providing further details, the CPS explained that timestamp analysis exposed clear manipulation, noting that the alleged reply was posted 13 minutes before the original tweet it purportedly responded to, an occurrence he described as “physically impossible on any digital platform.”

He further disclosed that the account in question was abruptly renamed @sundayvibe00 on the same day the screenshots went viral, set to private, and labelled a “parody account,” describing the move as consistent with “damage-control tactics by an impersonator.”

Oketola added that forensic checks found no linkage between the disputed account and the Chairman’s known email address or phone number, dismissing claims based on BVN and OPay data as “a logical fallacy, not forensic proof.”

He also noted that searches on the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine yielded no record of the account or its alleged posts prior to April 2026, reinforcing the conclusion that the content was fabricated.

Beyond the X account, the CPS revealed that the Commission uncovered a broader pattern of impersonation across multiple platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, suggesting a sustained and coordinated effort to mislead the public.

Quoting one of the independent investigators, Oketola described the development as “a coordinated digital impersonation and disinformation campaign.”

He urged the public to exercise caution and avoid spreading unverified information.

“The fact that content goes viral does not make it authentic,” he said, warning that advances in artificial intelligence and digital tools have made it easier to fabricate misleading content.

Oketola also called on media organisations to prioritise accuracy over speed in reporting, particularly on issues capable of undermining public trust.

He further appealed to law enforcement agencies to investigate the origin of the fake account and prosecute those responsible under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act.

Reiterating the Commission’s position, the CPS emphasised that all official communications are disseminated exclusively through INEC’s verified platforms, including its website, official X account, Facebook page, and online news portal.

“Any account purporting to represent the Chairman in a personal capacity should be treated as fraudulent unless formally verified by INEC,” Oketola added.

The full statement:

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN

PUBLIC STATEMENT