INEC Chairman Amupitan Faces Backlash Over Alleged Old Tweet

Fresh controversy has emerged concerning alleged past social media activities linked to Professor Joash Amupitan, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). These allegations suggest he made partisan comments endorsing the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 general elections, although INEC has officially denied the claims.

The issue gained significant attention after US-based Nigerian scholar Farooq Kperogi published a column. Kperogi claimed that archived posts from an X (formerly Twitter) account purportedly belonging to Amupitan contained pro-APC sentiments, including statements seen as supportive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Kperogi shared excerpts of his column on his X handle, arguing that these alleged posts cast doubt on the electoral commission's neutrality and urged the INEC chairman to step down. One of the cited posts showed a reply from an account identified as Amupitan to an APC Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, stating, "Victory is sure!" The post further elaborated on winning polling units in an Igbo-dominated community where the APC had not previously succeeded, attributing it to a partnership forged with local youth.

The report quickly sparked widespread debate on social media platforms, with Nigerians expressing divided opinions on the veracity of the claims and their potential impact on the credibility of the electoral body. Some commentators argued that the alleged posts, if confirmed, present a serious ethical challenge for the head of Nigeria's electoral management body.

Users voiced concerns about public trust. "The evidence suggesting the electoral umpire is pro APC is overwhelming. It’s an insult to our intelligence to expect people to accept such a glaring denial of the truth," one user named Gloria O commented. Another user, Sheidu Tijani, questioned the denial, asking, "How could someone holding this kind of sensitive position be caught red handed and still denying?" Onyekachi Akoma demanded immediate action, stating the situation had already damaged public confidence and urged, "Recuse yourself or resign."

Conversely, many challenged the basis of the allegations, questioning the conclusive proof that the social media account in question indeed belongs to the INEC chairman. A user identified as Lamal pointed out that the account had changed its username multiple times, which he argued raises doubts about its ownership. "This is really a gross jump and the allegations remain unsubstantiated until otherwise proven. It is left to you to establish that the account is indeed tied to the INEC chairman," Lamal stated, also expressing reservations about relying on AI tools for verification.

Another respondent, Engr Aliyu Sami, redirected the conversation towards electoral reforms, advocating for the implementation of recommendations from the Justice Mohammed Uwais Electoral Reform Committee. He suggested this would enhance the independence of appointments to INEC leadership positions.

While some observers expressed skepticism regarding the possibility of impartiality in political appointments, others cautioned that the ongoing controversy could further diminish confidence in the electoral system ahead of upcoming elections. "With previous INEC chairmen, trust issues came after elections, but this one is developing even before the polls," one user noted.

The public debate follows an earlier statement from INEC denying the allegations. The commission asserted that the claims were false and that the chairman does not operate an X account. Adedayo Oketola, the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, issued a statement warning the public about impersonators and cybercriminals using fake identities to disseminate misinformation.

INEC reiterated its dedication to conducting free, fair, and credible elections and advised the public to rely solely on its official communication channels for information.