INEC Raises Alarm Over Coordinated Impersonation Attack, Clears Chairman’s Aide of Viral X Post

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised alarm over what it described as a coordinated digital impersonation and disinformation attack targeting one of its top officials, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN.

In a public statement issued Monday in Abuja, the Commission categorically denied claims linking Amupitan to a viral X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that forensic investigations found no evidence that he owns or operates any account on the platform.

The denial follows widespread circulation of screenshots alleging that an account bearing his name posted a politically suggestive message, “Victory is sure,” in response to another user.

But INEC said the entire narrative was built on fabricated digital content.

According to the Commission, an independent forensic investigation uncovered multiple inconsistencies that discredited the claim, most notably a timestamp anomaly showing the alleged reply was posted before the original tweet it was meant to respond to.

INEC described this as “technically impossible,” concluding that the screenshot was manipulated and part of a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.

Further analysis revealed that the disputed account had no verifiable history prior to April 2026, with no trace found in internet archive records. Investigators also confirmed that the alleged post does not exist on the live X platform.

The Commission noted that the account was quickly altered on the same day the controversy broke  renamed, set to private, and labelled a “parody account”  a pattern it said aligns with efforts to conceal digital evidence.

INEC also dismissed attempts to link the account to Amupitan through email addresses, phone numbers, and bank verification data, describing such claims as speculative and lacking forensic proof.

Beyond the X platform, the Commission said it identified several fake social media accounts across Facebook and Instagram using the official’s identity, indicating a broader and sustained impersonation effort.

Describing the development as a threat to institutional credibility and democratic integrity, INEC cautioned against the growing misuse of digital tools to spread misinformation.

The Commission urged media organisations to exercise caution and verify social media content before publication, stressing that virality should not be mistaken for authenticity.

INEC disclosed that the matter has been forwarded to security agencies for investigation and possible prosecution under relevant cybercrime laws.

It also reiterated that all official communications are issued solely through its verified platforms, advising the public to disregard any unverified accounts or content attributed to its officials.