The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, and technology expert Gbenga Sesan have expressed differing opinions over the controversy surrounding an X account allegedly linked to Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking on Sunday Politics, Adebayo acknowledged that while digital content can be manipulated, ownership of such accounts can still be established through forensic analysis. He noted that the matter could be resolved either through legal action or a probe by the National Assembly.
“It is widely recognized that in the digital realm, manipulation is possible; however, forensic tracing of identity exists. It is a matter of whether someone will pursue legal action to contest his qualifications based on partisanship and provide evidence or if the National Assembly will initiate an investigation,” he said.
Adebayo added that even if the account were proven to belong to Amupitan, it would not automatically disqualify him from office under the law. According to him, the requirement is that the INEC chairman must not be affiliated with any political party at the time of appointment, not necessarily in the past.
“The stipulation is that at the time of appointment, one should not be affiliated with any political party… An individual who voted in 2023 may still be eligible to become the INEC chairman in 2025,” he explained.
However, he stressed that the issue of integrity would arise if the account were traced to Amupitan and he denied ownership. Adebayo noted that such a scenario could warrant resignation if dishonesty is established.
“If it is traced back to him and he denies it, it raises integrity concerns… it then becomes an integrity issue,” he said.
In contrast, Sesan questioned INEC’s outright denial and called for deeper scrutiny of the claims. He pointed to digital tools such as web archives, including the Wayback Machine, as means of tracking online activity.
“I discovered records linked to the handle ‘joash amupitan,'” he stated, adding that creating a social media account typically requires access to a verified email address or phone number.
“The fact is that one cannot utilize another person’s email or phone number to create an account without access to verification messages,” Sesan explained.
He also criticized INEC’s response, describing it as unconvincing and counterproductive, arguing that dismissing the allegations outright could fuel further public suspicion.
The controversy stems from claims that an X account allegedly linked to Amupitan shared partisan content in support of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 general elections.
The allegations have sparked mixed reactions, with some opposition figures and civil society groups calling for a thorough investigation, while others dismiss them as politically motivated.
INEC has, however, denied any connection between its chairman and the account, insisting that Amupitan neither owns nor operates any personal X handle. The commission described the claims as a “malicious and coordinated campaign of calumny” aimed at undermining its credibility.
It also warned that impersonation of public officials online is common and disclosed that it is working with security agencies to track those behind the alleged fake accounts.
