INEC Forensic Probe Exposes Fake X Account Used to Frame Chairman Amupitan
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has detailed how a fabricated X (formerly Twitter) account was used in a coordinated attempt to frame its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), following a forensic investigation that found no link between him and the viral posts attributed to his name.
Forensic Investigation Uncovers Digital Manipulation
The commission stated that the probe, conducted with the support of independent cybersecurity experts, established that the account @joashamupitan and the controversial post, "Victory is sure," were products of digital manipulation and impersonation. INEC explained that the disinformation surfaced on April 10, 2026, when screenshots began circulating online claiming Amupitan had made a partisan comment in response to a post by @dayoisrael.
The claims gained traction after being accompanied by alleged supporting data, including email addresses, phone numbers, and bank verification details. Following the claims, several groups and politicians called for the removal or resignation of the INEC chairman. However, the Commission, in a statement on Monday by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, said forensic analysis dismantled the claims, describing them as "technically impossible" and part of a wider effort to mislead the public.
Key Findings from the Forensic Analysis
According to INEC, one of the most damning findings was a timestamp anomaly showing that the alleged reply credited to Amupitan was posted 13 minutes before the original tweet it purportedly responded to. Further checks on the X platform revealed no trace of the alleged reply, while exhaustive searches returned zero results linking the content to any account operated by Amupitan.
The Commission added that attempts to connect the disputed account to Amupitan's verified email address through X's password recovery system failed, while similar efforts using his phone number yielded no link. INEC's investigation revealed that the X account was created in September 2022, but there is no linkage between it and Prof. Amupitan's Yahoo or Unijos emails.
Timestamp analysis shows the alleged 2026 reply, "Victory is sure," was posted 13 minutes before the original post by @dayoisreal, which is physically impossible on any digital platform. Wayback Machine searches show zero records of @joashamupitan on X before April 2026, and the alleged reply is absent from all live and archived threads.
On April 10, 2026, the same day the screenshots went viral, @joashamupitan was renamed to @sundayvibe00, set to private, and labelled "Parody Account." This is consistent with deliberate impersonation and damage-control.
Dismissal of False Claims and Broader Impersonation Campaign
The commission dismissed claims built on Bank Verification Number (BVN) and OPay records, noting that such data can confirm identity ownership but cannot establish control of a social media account. The umpire revealed that the investigation extended beyond X, uncovering multiple fake profiles on Facebook and Instagram using Amupitan's name and photographs, suggesting a coordinated impersonation campaign across platforms.
The Commission faulted the use of historical data breach records cited by some actors as proof, explaining that such datasets are non-specific and incapable of linking any individual to a particular social media handle. Describing the incident as a "coordinated digital impersonation and disinformation campaign," the Commission warned that advances in artificial intelligence and image manipulation have made it easier to fabricate convincing but false online content.
Call for Verification and Legal Action
The statement urged media organisations and the public to verify social media claims through official channels before amplifying them, stressing that virality does not equate to authenticity. "Accuracy must take precedence over speed, particularly where public trust and institutional credibility are at stake," INEC said.
The Commission disclosed that the forensic report has been forwarded to law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act. The independent forensic report has been referred to the law enforcement agencies for necessary action. The law enforcement agencies should move swiftly to trace the origin of the fabricated screenshots, identify the individuals responsible for creating and operating the @joashamupitan account, and prosecute them under Nigeria's Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act.
The law criminalises identity theft, digital forgery, and the dissemination of manipulated electronic content. Social media platforms, including X, Meta, and Instagram, must also adopt fast-track impersonation response protocols for verified electoral bodies and senior public officials, whose identities can be exploited to distort democratic processes.
The commission reiterated that Prof. Amupitan does not operate any personal X account and advised the public to treat any such claims as fraudulent unless officially confirmed.
