The Independent National Electoral Commission (Independent National Electoral Commission) has disclosed plans to engage independent forensic experts to investigate resurfaced social media posts allegedly linked to an account associated with its Chairman, Joash Amupitan.
The commission said the decision is aimed at ensuring transparency and safeguarding institutional integrity as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, INEC’s Director of ICT, Lawrence Bayode, said the commission is treating the matter with seriousness and will not rely on unverified screenshots or social media claims in reaching conclusions.
“We are taking this further… I will not base my judgment on screenshots. I will not allow that to guide my conclusion,” Bayode stated.
He explained that while the commission has already referred the matter to security agencies, an external forensic review will also be carried out to verify the authenticity of the posts and the account in question.
According to him, the involvement of third-party experts is necessary to ensure a credible and technically sound investigation, alongside INEC’s internal review processes.
“We are also going to be engaging a third-party forensic expert to look at this… and that will guide the conclusion of the commission,” he added.
Bayode noted that the issue has been escalated to security agencies to trace the origin and possible manipulation of the digital footprints linked to the account.
He warned that the controversy underscores broader concerns about digital impersonation and misinformation, especially as INEC intensifies preparations for technology-driven elections in 2027.
The ICT Director added that any breach of public trust at this stage could undermine confidence in the commission’s planned electronic systems for the upcoming polls.
The controversy follows claims amplified online after an artificial intelligence tool, Grok, linked a social media account to the INEC Chairman, suggesting it contained posts perceived as supportive of the All Progressives Congress (All Progressives Congress) and its 2023 presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The allegations sparked widespread debate, with civil society groups and political commentators calling for clarification over concerns about electoral neutrality.
However, INEC has firmly denied the claims, stating that the Chairman does not operate any personal X (formerly Twitter) account.
The commission described the reports as false and part of a coordinated attempt to undermine its credibility.
