INEC Chairman Faces Resignation Calls as Fact-Check Links Him to 𝕏 Account Supporting Tinubu

Pressure is mounting on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, as fresh allegations linking him to a controversial social media account continue to stir political tension.

The development has sparked renewed calls for his resignation, with critics questioning the neutrality of the electoral body ahead of future elections.

The controversy followed an investigation by Daily Trust, which examined activities tied to an 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) account accused of posting partisan content during the 2023 general elections.

The findings have since drawn reactions from political parties, civil society groups, and concerned Nigerians, many of whom argue that the credibility of INEC is at stake.

According to the report, the account in question allegedly made comments that appeared sympathetic to the All Progressives Congress and its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, during the election period. This has raised concerns about possible bias at the highest level of Nigeria’s electoral management body.

Those demanding Amupitan’s resignation insist that any perceived political leaning, especially from someone in such a sensitive position, could weaken public confidence in the electoral process. They argue that the chairman must be seen as completely neutral to ensure trust in election outcomes.

The issue gained more attention after several posts linked to the account surfaced online. One of such posts, dated March 17, 2023, reacted to claims about supporters of Labour Party candidate Peter Obi with the words: “They are evil in the 24th century.”

A day later, the same account reportedly responded to a message by APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, saying: “Victory is sure.”

In another instance, on April 25, 2023, when a pro-Tinubu supporter celebrated the president’s reception at the Abuja airport, the account replied with a single word: “Asiwaju.” These comments have been widely interpreted as politically charged.

Further findings showed that the account, identified by user ID 1567086242164101120, was created on September 6, 2022, and initially operated under the handle @joashamupitan. However, amid growing scrutiny on April 10, 2026, the account reportedly changed its name to @Sundayvibe00, was locked, and later tagged as a “Parody Account.”

Digital analysts noted that while usernames can be changed on the platform, user IDs remain constant. This creates a traceable history, linking previous account names and activities.

Around the same time the original handle was changed, a new account bearing the name @joashamupitan appeared, raising fresh concerns about possible impersonation or deliberate identity recycling.

Investigators also looked into claims that the account might have been linked to a phone number allegedly associated with the INEC chairman through two-factor authentication. However, they stated clearly that such claims could not be independently confirmed using available open-source tools.

“No direct forensic confirmation was obtained linking the phone number to the 𝕏 account,” the report stated.

Reacting to the allegations, Amupitan, through his media aide, denied any connection to the account. He maintained that he does not operate any account on the platform and has never made partisan comments online.

He stressed that he remains politically neutral in both his public duties and private life.

INEC also issued an official response through its Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola. The commission described the account as “fake” and noted that it had undergone several changes, suggesting it may not be reliable.

Despite these denials, the fact-check concluded that there is credible evidence showing that an 𝕏 account previously operated under the handle @joashamupitan with a consistent digital history and authentic-looking posts.

However, the report also pointed out that the emergence of another account with the same handle, along with the absence of strong technical proof directly linking the chairman, makes it difficult to reach a final conclusion.

Based on the available findings, the claim linking the account to the INEC chairman was rated “mostly true,” a verdict that has continued to fuel debate across the country.