The Independent National Electoral Commission (Independent National Electoral Commission) has rejected claims that it copied a recent press statement attributed to Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on New Media.
The commission described the allegation as false and misleading, insisting that it did not reproduce any external content in issuing its clarification regarding reports that its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), had endorsed a partisan post or operated a personal account on social media.
The controversy began after INEC reposted a statement originally used to debunk claims of political bias against its chairman. The statement, signed by the Chairman’s Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, dismissed the allegations as baseless and warned about the spread of fake accounts impersonating the INEC leadership.
However, a report by Peoples Gazette suggested that a similar statement had earlier been shared by Dada Olusegun, raising public questions on social media about possible duplication or coordination between the electoral body and the Presidency.
Some users online alleged that the wording of both statements appeared identical, fueling debate over INEC’s neutrality. INEC, however, firmly denied these claims, stating that its repost was only meant to amplify an official clarification already issued through its channels and not an endorsement of any individual.
The commission reiterated that it remains strictly non-partisan and urged the public to disregard interpretations suggesting political influence over its communications. It also advised Nigerians to rely only on verified official platforms for accurate updates.
The development comes at a time of increased scrutiny of INEC’s activities ahead of future elections, with ongoing debates surrounding its leadership and recent administrative decisions.
