A forensic probe has debunked viral claims linking the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, to a controversial X (formerly Twitter) account, describing the entire narrative as a calculated disinformation campaign.
In a statement released in Abuja, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, disclosed that an independent, multi-layered forensic investigation carried out by cybersecurity experts found no evidence whatsoever that Prof. Amupitan operates any personal account on X.
According to the findings, all posts, screenshots, and replies attributed to the handle @joashamupitan are not only fraudulent but also technically unverifiable.
Key Forensic Findings
The investigation revealed several inconsistencies that undermine the credibility of the viral claims:
No Digital Linkage:
There is no connection between the alleged account and the Chairman’s verified communication channels, including email addresses and phone numbers.
False Financial Identity Claims:
Attempts to link the account using BVN or OPay-related data were dismissed as logically flawed, as identity confirmation does not equate to account ownership.
Timestamp Manipulation:
A critical flaw exposed in the viral claim showed that the alleged reply — “Victory is sure” — appeared 13 minutes before the original tweet it supposedly responded to, making it technically impossible.
No Historical Footprint:
Checks using Wayback Machine found no trace of the account or its activity prior to April 2026.
Suspicious Account Behavior:
The account in question was reportedly renamed @sundayvibe00, switched to private mode, and rebranded as a parody account shortly after the controversy went viral — a move interpreted as an attempt at damage control.
INEC Distances Chairman from Social Media Activity
INEC reiterated that Prof. Amupitan does not maintain any personal presence on X and urged the public to disregard all content linked to the fake handle.
The Commission also warned of the growing sophistication of coordinated misinformation campaigns aimed at undermining public trust in democratic institutions.
This report is published by Headlineswave.ng in line with our commitment to verified, accurate, and responsible journalism.
All claims have been cross-checked against official statements and forensic findings to ensure factual integrity and public trust.
