Fresh controversy has emerged over alleged past social media posts linked to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, sparking renewed debate about his political neutrality.
The claims suggest that the electoral chief may have made comments perceived as supportive of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 general elections.
However, INEC has firmly denied the allegations.
The issue gained public attention after a US-based Nigerian academic, Farooq Kperogi, published a column referencing archived posts from an X account allegedly bearing Amupitan’s name.
He argued that the posts raise concerns about the independence of Nigeria’s electoral umpire and called for the chairman’s resignation.
Among the quoted posts was a message expressing excitement over electoral outcomes, including claims of strong performance in local polling units and praise of youth collaboration during elections.
These excerpts have since circulated widely online, fueling heated discussions.
The allegations have divided public opinion.
Some Nigerians insist the posts, if authentic, raise serious ethical questions about the neutrality expected of the head of an electoral commission.
Others, however, argue that the evidence is inconclusive, pointing out that the account in question appears to have undergone changes and may not be directly linked to the INEC chairman.
INEC, through its Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, dismissed the claims, describing them as misleading and warning against misinformation spread by impersonators and cybercriminals.
The commission reiterated that Prof. Amupitan does not operate the X account being referenced.
While the debate continues online, some commentators have used the controversy to call for broader electoral reforms to strengthen transparency in the appointment and independence of electoral officials.
INEC maintained its commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections, urging the public to rely only on verified official communication channels.
