The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that it will not rely on artificial intelligence-generated analysis or social media screenshots in its ongoing investigation into alleged digital impersonation involving its chairman, Joash Amupitan.
Speaking during an interview, INEC’s ICT Director, Lawrence Bayode, explained that the commission is prioritising credible and verifiable evidence as it probes claims linked to a social media account purportedly associated with the chairman.
According to Bayode, the commission has already engaged security agencies and plans to involve independent forensic experts to ascertain the authenticity of the account and the content circulating online.
“We rely strictly on evidence. Screenshots alone cannot form the basis of our conclusions,” he said, stressing that unverified digital materials would not guide the outcome of the investigation.
He disclosed that the commission is also conducting internal technical reviews as part of efforts to establish the facts surrounding the controversy.
Bayode further noted that the issue highlights broader concerns about digital impersonation and misinformation, particularly as INEC prepares to deploy more technology in the 2027 general elections.
He warned that emerging digital threats must be addressed early to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
On the use of artificial intelligence tools such as Grok in analysing the situation, Bayode cautioned against drawing firm conclusions from AI-generated outputs, noting that such systems can produce inaccurate or misleading results.
“Artificial intelligence can sometimes generate false interpretations. That is why every output must be independently verified,” he said.
The controversy stems from resurfaced social media activity linked to a 2023 post by APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, which some critics alleged received engagement from an account believed to belong to the INEC chairman.
INEC, however, has consistently denied the claims, maintaining that the chairman does not operate any personal account on X (formerly Twitter) and has never engaged in partisan political commentary.
The commission described the allegations as part of a coordinated misinformation effort and reaffirmed its commitment to working with security agencies to identify those responsible for the impersonation.
