All the alleged posts, replies, or statements attributed to Prof. Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on X (Twitter) are fraudulent, forensically unverifiable, technically impossible, and part of a coordinated disinformation campaign, an independent forensic investigation report has revealed.

The report conclusively established that he does not operate any personal X (Twitter) account.

In a detailed forensic report released on Monday by INEC, investigators identified several anomalies. According to the report, one of the most critical pieces of evidence was a timestamp anomaly.

The alleged reply credited to the fake account was posted 13 minutes before the original tweet it supposedly responded to, a scenario described as technically impossible on any digital platform. This finding strongly indicates digital manipulation.

Investigators carried out extensive verification using platform recovery tools, email linkage checks, and phone number analysis.

The findings confirmed that there is no connection between the fake X account and Prof. Amupitan’s verified email or phone number. Claims based on BVN and OPay data were described as misleading and logically flawed. Data breach records circulated online were also found to be unrelated and lacked any direct link to the alleged account.

Further checks using the Wayback Machine showed no record of the account or its posts before April 2026, contradicting claims that it had been active since 2022. In addition, the alleged reply does not exist on the live X platform, reinforcing the conclusion that it was never posted.

INEC also disclosed that on the same day the screenshots went viral, the account was renamed from @joashamupitan to @sundayvibe00, set to private, and labelled a “Parody Account.” This sequence of actions was identified as a deliberate attempt to erase digital traces and evade detection.

The investigation uncovered a broader impersonation network, including multiple fake Facebook and Instagram accounts using Prof. Amupitan’s identity, recycled profile images across platforms, and systematic misuse of publicly available personal data. INEC concluded that the incident is part of a coordinated effort to manipulate public perception.

The Commission urged Nigerians and media organisations to verify social media content before sharing, emphasising that viral content is not necessarily authentic. It also highlighted the growing risks posed by artificial intelligence and digital manipulation.

The case has been referred to law enforcement agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act. Authorities are expected to trace those responsible for creating and circulating the fake content.

INEC reiterated that all official communications are issued only through its verified platforms, adding that any account claiming to represent Prof. Amupitan in a personal capacity should be treated as fraudulent unless officially confirmed.

Providing background to the report, Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, recalled that on 10 April 2026, Prof. Amupitan’s attention was drawn to posts and screenshots on social media claiming he operated an X (Twitter) account (@joashamupitan) and made a partisan post (“Victory is sure”) in reply to @dayoisreal.

He said shortly after, more screenshots appeared online showing emails, phone numbers, OPay, and BVN verification data, and data breach records linking Prof. Amupitan to the X (Twitter) account. These records were widely shared across traditional and online media as corroborating proof.

Oketola said after discovering the disinformation, Prof. Amupitan, through him, issued an official statement to debunk the falsehood and clearly stated that he had never owned or operated an X (Twitter) account.

Thereafter, he said INEC committed to a full forensic investigation and commissioned an independent forensic cybersecurity expert, who conducted a multi-layered forensic and digital investigation using X platform data, internet archive records, OSINT tools, identity forensics, and cross-platform analysis.

“A combination of INEC’s internal review and the independent investigations by digital forensic and cybersecurity experts have reached the same conclusion with high confidence. The forensic evidence is comprehensive, multi-sourced, and unambiguous. The posts attributed to Prof. Amupitan on X are fabricated. The account is a clear case of impersonation, and the surrounding activity points to a coordinated disinformation effort intended to manipulate public perception. One of the independent investigators described it as ‘a coordinated digital impersonation and disinformation campaign,” the statement read in part.

tribuneonline.ng

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