INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan Under Fire for Social Media Posts

Joash Amupitan, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is facing public scrutiny due to resurfaced social media posts that allegedly show his support for Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 electoral period. Critics argue that these posts raise questions about his impartiality and the necessity for neutrality in overseeing Nigeria's electoral processes.

Notably, a post dated March 18, 2023, involved Dayo Israel, the APC youth leader, discussing political support shifts, to which Amupitan allegedly responded. Another post from March 17, 2023, reportedly showed his account reacting to claims supporting Peter Obi, condemning misinformation.

Additionally, a celebratory post regarding Tinubu's reception at Abuja airport on April 25, 2023, has also drawn attention. INEC's chief press secretary, Adedayo Oketola, stated that the social media accounts linked to Amupitan are fake and do not belong to him, asserting that he has no involvement with the posts.

Despite these denials, the situation continues to attract public interest, highlighting the importance of public trust in electoral institutions.