INEC is hiring forensic experts to investigate the authenticity of partisan tweets allegedly linked to Chairman Joash Amupitan to safeguard public trust ahead of the 2027 elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced it will engage third-party forensic experts to investigate controversial tweets allegedly linked to its Chairman, Joash Amupitan. The decision follows a global social media debate sparked by an AI tool, Grok, which linked an account featuring pro-APC and pro-Tinubu posts to the Chairman. INEC’s Director of ICT, Lawrence Bayode, stated that the commission is treating the matter as a potential threat to institutional integrity as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Channels TV, Bayode emphasized that the commission would not make judgments based on circulated screenshots, which are susceptible to manipulation. Instead, a rigorous evidence-based approach involving both internal reviews and external technical audits will be used to determine the authenticity of the posts. The matter has also been escalated to Nigerian security agencies to track the origin of the digital footprints and identify any potential fabrications intended to discredit the electoral umpire.
The urgency of the investigation is tied to INEC’s technological roadmap for 2027, with officials noting that public trust in electronic voting systems depends on the perceived neutrality of the commission’s leadership. While opposition parties and civil society groups have called for Amupitan’s resignation, INEC maintains that the Chairman does not operate a personal X (formerly Twitter) account. The forensic conclusion is expected to serve as the definitive word on the Chairman’s alleged partisan leanings.
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