Fake Social Media Real Damage: INEC Disowns Viral X Account Linked To Its Chairman
In an era where a single post can sway public opinion within minutes, Nigeria’s electoral umpire has moved swiftly to debunk a viral claim threatening its credibility.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed as fabricated a controversial X (formerly Twitter) account falsely linked to its Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan.
The Commission described the development as a coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at misleading the public.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Mr. Adedayo Oketola, revealed that a detailed forensic investigation by independent cybersecurity experts found no evidence connecting the account to the INEC boss.
According to him, the probe uncovered multiple inconsistencies, including manipulated timestamps, absence of any digital linkage to the Chairman, and a complete lack of historical records of the account prior to April 2026.
He noted that one of the most glaring red flags was a reply allegedly made by the Chairman appearing 13 minutes before the original tweet, a technical impossibility.
Oketola further disclosed that the account, initially bearing the Chairman’s name, was later renamed and marked as a parody after the controversy erupted, a move he said confirmed deliberate impersonation.
The investigation also uncovered a network of fake accounts across social media platforms, pointing to a wider disinformation effort.
He warned that advances in artificial intelligence are making it increasingly easy to fabricate convincing but false narratives, urging both the public and media organisations to prioritise verification over virality.
The CPS stressed that the INEC Chairman does not operate any personal X account and advised Nigerians to rely only on the Commission’s verified communication channels.
The forensic report has since been handed over to law enforcement agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution of those behind the impersonation.
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