The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo, has raised concerns about the credibility of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Amupitan, over an alleged X account linked to him.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Adebayo said the issue goes beyond technical debates and touches on public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system. He argued that if the account is eventually traced to Amupitan despite his denial, it could raise serious questions about integrity.
Adebayo acknowledged that digital manipulation is possible but stressed that modern forensic tools can elish the true ownership of online accounts. According to him, the matter could be resolved either through the courts or by an investigation from the National Assembly.
He further clarified that even if the account is proven to belong to the INEC chairman, it does not automatically disqualify him from office under Nigerian law. He explained that the constitutional requirement focuses on non membership of political parties at the time of appointment, not past affiliations or voting history.
However, Adebayo emphasized that honesty and transparency remain critical. He warned that any perception of dishonesty could undermine public confidence in INEC’s ability to conduct credible elections.
Responding to the controversy, INEC dismissed claims linking its chairman to the account, stating that there is no verified forensic evidence supporting the allegation. The commission’s Director of ICT, Lawrence Bayode, noted that investigations are ongoing, including engagement with security agencies and independent forensic experts.
Bayode also cautioned against relying on artificial intelligence tools such as Grok, stating that such systems can generate inaccurate or misleading information. He added that social media accounts can be manipulated or even created using another person’s identity, especially without strong security protections.
INEC maintained that its final position will be guided strictly by verified evidence, as it continues efforts to protect its credibility and public trust.
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