Jane Salihu
The Independent National Electoral Commission has raised alarm over the activities of cybercriminals creating fake social media accounts in the name of its Chairman, warning Nigerians to disregard a viral post falsely attributed to him on the platform X.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, said the Commission had uncovered a malicious campaign circulating online which falsely claimed that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, endorsed a partisan post.
The Commission described the claim as completely false and a deliberate fabrication aimed at undermining the neutrality of the electoral body.
According to the statement, the INEC Chairman does not operate any personal account on X and has never made partisan comments on the platform or any other social media channel.
The Commission further noted that some fraudsters had in the past created fake accounts bearing the Chairman’s name to deceive unsuspecting Nigerians, adding that several of such accounts had already been reported to security agencies.
INEC said the latest development appears to be part of a broader pattern of identity theft and misinformation designed to exploit the Commission’s public profile.
The electoral body disclosed that it is currently working with relevant security agencies and cyber intelligence units to trace and identify those responsible for the fake posts and online impersonation.
It warned that individuals behind the act would face prosecution, stressing that identity theft and the circulation of fabricated social media content constitute offences under the Cybercrimes Act.
INEC therefore urged members of the public to rely only on information released through its official communication channels and verified institutional platforms.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to maintaining credibility and transparency in the electoral process as it continues preparations for upcoming elections.
