By Sabiu Abdullahi
A recent fact-check has linked the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, to a controversial X (formerly Twitter) account, sparking fresh calls for his resignation.
The development follows allegations that the INEC boss expressed partisan views in 2023, with critics claiming he showed support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate at the time, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Several civil society organisations, political parties and concerned individuals argue that the alleged conduct undermines his neutrality. They insist that his continued stay in office could weaken public confidence in the electoral body ahead of future elections.
Findings from the investigation revealed that an X account previously bearing the handle @joashamupitan has a consistent digital history dating back to September 2022. The account was later renamed, restricted, and marked as a parody account amid the ongoing controversy.
Posts traced to the account include comments that appeared to favour the APC. On March 17, 2023, in response to a post involving Peter Obi supporters, the account wrote: “They are evil in the 24th century.”
A day later, while reacting to a tweet by APC National Youth Leader Dayo Israel, the account stated: “Victory is sure.”
On April 25, 2023, it responded “Asiwaju.” to a message celebrating Tinubu’s reception in Abuja.
Despite these findings, INEC dismissed the claims. In a statement issued by Chief Press Secretary Adedayo Oketola, the commission described the account as “fake,” noting that it had undergone several changes.
Further checks showed that while the account’s username changed recently, its unique user identification number remained constant. This suggests a continuous digital trail. However, claims linking the account to Amupitan through phone number verification and two-factor authentication could not be independently confirmed.
Reacting to the controversy, Prof. Amupitan, through his media aide, denied owning or operating any X account. He maintained that he has always upheld political neutrality both publicly and privately.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have intensified criticism. A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused the INEC chairman of bias and urged him to step down.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said, “The INEC chairman has been very unpretentious in his partisanship. We have said so severally and can reiterate same.”
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also condemned the alleged actions, describing them as “a grave affront to the integrity of our electoral system.” The party warned it could escalate protests if the chairman fails to resign.
Civil society groups have joined the call. Comrade Umar Ibrahim Umar of War Against Injustice said the situation has reached a stage where stepping aside may be necessary to protect public trust. He noted that the issue goes beyond personal guilt and affects confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
Similarly, Zainab Nasir Ahmad of YOSPIS stressed that credibility in elections depends heavily on public perception. “The moment people begin to doubt the neutrality of the electoral umpire, the legitimacy of the outcome is already at risk, regardless of how well the process is conducted,” she said.
Other stakeholders expressed mixed views. While some insisted on resignation, others advised the INEC chairman to remain fair and transparent in dealing with all political parties.
Legal practitioner Kamilu Ahmad-Paki argued that any evidence of bias is enough to question Amupitan’s suitability for office. “INEC requires a leader of high integrity and neutrality. Once there is evidence of bias or compromise, as in his recent actions and past social media activities, that person does not deserve to hold the position,” he said.
As the debate continues, analysts say the controversy may have lasting implications for public trust in the electoral system if not properly addressed.
