Adedayo Oketola, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has stated that the X account linked to the Commission’s Chairman is bogus and part of a planned disinformation operation.
Oketola said in a statement made on Monday in Abuja that a rigorous, multi-layered forensic examination undertaken by independent cybersecurity specialists has conclusively proved that the INEC chairman does not use any personal X accounts.
He stated: “The Independent National Electoral Commission, committed to a full forensic investigation, commissioned an independent forensic cybersecurity expert, who conducted a multi-layered forensic and digital investigation using X platform data, internet archive records, OSINT tools, identity forensics, and cross-platform analysis.”
Oketola emphasised that all postings, answers, and screenshots linking the Chairman to the username @joashamupitan are false, forensically unreliable, and technically impossible.
The scandal began on April 10, 2026, when viral social media posts claimed that the Chairman made the political comment “Victory is sure” in response to another user, citing screenshots and purported digital records.
However, the CPS stated that the forensic investigation discovered clear evidence of forgery and impersonation, with the following significant findings:
“There is no connection between the disputed X account and Prof. Amupitan’s verified email addresses or phone numbers, as multiple recovery and verification attempts failed to establish any link,” he said.
“The data used to infer account ownership merely confirms identity, not control of any social media handle, rendering such claims illogical.
“The alleged response ‘Victory is sure’ was tweeted 13 minutes before the original tweet it reacted to, which is technically impossible and conclusive evidence of falsification.
“Research on the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine yielded no indication of the account or its stated activity prior to April 2026.
“Real-time checks revealed that the reported response does not exist and has never shown on the platform.
“On the same day that the screenshots went viral, the account was renamed @sundayvibe00, set to private, and labelled as a ‘parody account,’ implying intentional impersonation and damage management.
“At least seven fraudulent accounts on Facebook and Instagram using the Chairman’s name were discovered, indicating a persistent disinformation campaign.”
“The forensic evidence is comprehensive, obtained from various sources, and unequivocal. The posts attributed to Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan on X are bogus. Mr. Oketola added, “This account is a clear example of impersonation.”
Citing one of the independent investigators, he described the situation as “a coordinated digital impersonation and disinformation campaign,” noting that advances in artificial intelligence have made it easier to create deceptive content.
He advised the people to avoid spreading unconfirmed material, emphasising that “the virality of content does not equate to its authenticity,” and urging media organisations to choose accuracy over expediency.
Oketola stated that the independent forensic report has been forwarded to law enforcement agencies for further action. He also urged security agencies to look into the sources of the phoney account and prosecute individuals involved under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act.
He continued, “Media organisations, in particular, have a responsibility to implement rigorous forensic verification standards for social media posts and screenshots before publication, especially when such content implicates public officials or has significant implications for public trust and institutional credibility.” Accuracy, rather than speed, should govern such reporting.”