Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Chairman of the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has acknowledged that the X account being linked to the Fee’s Chairman is faux and a part of a coordinated disinformation marketing campaign.
In a press release launched on Monday in Abuja, Oketola revealed {that a} detailed, multi-layered forensic investigation carried out by unbiased cybersecurity specialists has conclusively proven that the INEC Chairman doesn’t function any private X account.
He mentioned: “The Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee, dedicated to a full forensic investigation, commissioned an unbiased forensic cybersecurity professional, who carried out a multi-layered forensic and digital investigation utilizing X platform knowledge, web archive data, OSINT instruments, id forensics, and cross-platform evaluation.”
Oketola emphasised that each one posts, replies, and screenshots linking the Chairman to the deal with @joashamupitan are fraudulent, forensically unverifiable, and technically unattainable.
The controversy started on April 10, 2026, when viral social media posts alleged that the Chairman made a partisan comment, “Victory is certain,” in response to a different consumer, accompanied by screenshots and supposed digital data.
Nevertheless, the CPS mentioned the forensic probe uncovered clear indicators of fabrication and impersonation, outlining the next findings:
“There isn’t a connection between the disputed X account and Prof. Amupitan’s verified e-mail addresses or cellphone numbers, as a number of restoration and verification makes an attempt failed to ascertain any hyperlink,” he added.
“The information used to counsel possession of the account solely confirms id and doesn’t set up management of any social media deal with, making such claims a logical fallacy.
“The alleged reply ‘Victory is certain’ was posted 13 minutes earlier than the unique tweet it responded to, an incidence that’s technically unattainable and definitive proof of fabrication.
“Investigations carried out on the Web Archive’s Wayback Machine revealed no proof of the account or its purported actions previous to April 2026.
“Actual-time checks verified that the alleged response doesn’t exist and has by no means been current on the platform.
“On the identical day that the screenshots gained widespread consideration, the account was renamed @sundayvibe00, switched to non-public, and designated as a ‘parody account,’ suggesting intentional impersonation and efforts at harm management.
“A minimal of seven fraudulent accounts on Fb and Instagram utilizing the Chairman’s id have been found, indicating a persistent disinformation marketing campaign.
“The forensic proof is thorough, sourced from a number of origins, and unequivocal. The posts attributed to Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan on X are fabricated. This account is a blatant occasion of impersonation,” acknowledged Mr. Oketola.
Quoting one of many unbiased investigators, he described the event as “a coordinated digital impersonation and disinformation marketing campaign,” warning that advances in synthetic intelligence have made it simpler to create deceptive content material.
He urged the general public to keep away from sharing unverified info, stressing that “the virality of content material doesn’t equate to its authenticity,” and known as on media organisations to prioritise accuracy over pace.
Oketola added that the unbiased forensic report has been submitted to legislation enforcement companies for vital motion. He additionally urged safety companies to hint the origin of the faux account and prosecute these accountable below the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, and many others.) Act.
He added: “Media organizations, particularly, have a duty to implement rigorous forensic verification requirements for social media posts and screenshots earlier than publication, particularly when such content material implicates public officers or has important implications for public belief and institutional credibility. Accuracy, relatively than pace, ought to dictate reporting in such issues.”