The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has vowed to fish out those behind viral claims linking its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to alleged partisan social media posts, describing the development as a coordinated attempt to undermine the credibility of the electoral body.

The denial came in a statement signed by Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman.

The Commission dismissed the allegations as false, misleading and entirely baseless, urging the public to disregard what it described as a deliberate campaign of misinformation.

Oketola stressed that Prof. Amupitan does not operate any personal account on X (formerly Twitter), and has at no time used any social media platform to express partisan views or political affiliation.

He said the claims were being deliberately circulated to create distrust in the electoral body at a time the Commission is focused on strengthening preparations for future elections.

“The Commission is aware that cybercriminals have been on the prowl, utilising fake social media accounts in the Chairman’s name to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.

“We wish to place it on record that several of such fraudulent accounts had been identified and reported to security agencies in the past. This latest fabrication is merely a continuation of a criminal pattern aimed at exploiting the Commission’s profile for illicit gains.

“The Commission will not fold its arms while the character of its leadership is being assassinated by digital imposters and mischief-makers. We wish to notify the public that we are working in close collaboration with relevant security agencies and cyber-intelligence units to track and identify the individuals or groups behind this identity theft and misinformation”, Oketola said.

The statement noted that the Commission would ensure that these imposters face the full wrath of the law, adding that Identity theft and the dissemination of deepfake or forged social media interactions are criminal offenses under the Cybercrimes Act.

“Those responsible for this mischief will be tracked and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others who believe the digital space is a safe haven for criminality”, he added.

INEC stressed that the Chairman does not operate any personal account on X (formerly Twitter), and has never engaged in partisan commentary or political activity on any social media platform.

It said the claims were being circulated to create distrust in the Commission at a sensitive period when it is focused on strengthening preparations for future elections.

INEC further stated that perpetrators would be prosecuted under relevant provisions of the Cybercrimes Act, as part of efforts to curb identity theft and online misinformation.

The Commission urged Nigerians to rely only on verified communication channels for official updates, stressing that authentic information about its activities is released strictly through formal statements and approved platforms. (The Guardian)