The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has denied claims linking him to an X account allegedly used to express support for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 general election.
Amupitan maintained that he never owned or operated the account, insisting that the allegations were unfounded and aimed at questioning his neutrality as head of the electoral body.
He made the clarification on Thursday while speaking at a democracy-focused discussion organised by Chatham House in collaboration with the Kimpact Development Initiative in London. The event centred on Nigeria’s 2027 elections and their implications for democratic development and regional stability.
The controversy followed reports that an X account bearing the handle @joashamupitan had posted a message reading “Victory is sure” in response to a post by APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, celebrating the party’s victory in an Igbo-dominated community in Lagos during the 2023 elections.
However, the INEC chairman said he had no connection with the account. He disclosed that the matter had been reported to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Inspector-General of Police, while an independent investigation had also produced a report on the allegation.
Amupitan explained that he attempted to reach X to address the claims but could not make progress because he was not registered on the platform.
“I never had an X account. I tried to get in touch with X, but there’s no way if you don’t have an account,” he said.
He further disclosed that Yahoo Mail was the only email service he regularly used, maintaining that the disputed social media account did not belong to him.
The INEC boss also suggested that the controversy was part of a wider effort to damage his reputation and weaken public confidence in the electoral commission. He linked the timing of the allegations to the legal dispute involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the interpretation of a court order on maintaining the status quo.
According to him, previous accusations, including claims that he was part of President Tinubu’s legal team and questions surrounding his educational qualifications, had also been investigated by security agencies and found to be baseless.
Amupitan’s defence comes amid growing public scrutiny of INEC’s independence as political parties and their supporters begin preparations for the 2027 general election.
Despite the controversies, he expressed confidence in the commission’s readiness for the next elections, promising an exercise that Nigerians would have every reason to be proud of.
