INEC Chairman Amupitan Under Fire as Old Tweets Reveal Him Supporting Tinubu, APC

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Nigeria’s electoral umpire is facing a fresh crisis of confidence. Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is at the center of a brewing storm over resurfaced social media posts that suggest a deep-seated bias toward President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

​What began as a quiet whisper in political circles has turned into a roar, led by Nigerian-American academic Farooq Kperogi. Kperogi, who once defended Amupitan’s integrity, has now performed a complete U-turn, citing "verifiable past tweets" that paint a picture of a man far from neutral.

​The "Digital Receipts"

​The controversy stems from an X (formerly Twitter) account linked to Amupitan during his tenure at the University of Jos. The posts in question—dated 2023, just before his high-profile appointment—reveal a series of partisan interactions:

• ​The "Victory" Comment: On March 18, 2023, after APC National Youth Leader Dayo Israel celebrated winning an "Igbo-dominated" polling unit, Amupitan allegedly replied: “Victory is sure.”
• ​The "Evil" Label: Responding to allegations that Peter Obi (Labour Party) supporters were spreading misinformation about Desmond Elliot, Amupitan reportedly wrote: “They are evil in the 24th [sic] century.”
• ​The "Asiwaju" Nod: In April 2023, replying to a post celebrating Tinubu’s arrival in Abuja, Amupitan posted a single, loaded word: “Asiwaju.”

​The Rebrand and the Retreat

​As the scrutiny intensified, the account associated with the Chairman reportedly went through a series of suspicious transformations:

1. ​The handle was changed.
2. ​It was rebranded as a “parody” account.
3. ​It was eventually set to private.

​For many observers, these digital maneuvers look less like a coincidence and more like an attempt to scrub a partisan past.

​Why This Matters

​The core of the issue isn't just that a professor had political opinions—it's about the integrity of the office.

​“If Amupitan values the integrity of the institution he leads, he should own up to them, acknowledge the moral burden they place on his office, and resign.” — Farooq Kperogi

​Beyond the tweets, critics point to Amupitan’s alleged involvement in the internal friction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), suggesting a pattern of behavior aimed at destabilizing opposition forces.

​The Official Defense

​INEC has not remained silent. The Commission’s Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, has dismissed the entire controversy, labeling the social media account in question as “fake.” However, with digital footprints proving difficult to erase, the public remains skeptical. In a country where electoral credibility is already on thin ice, the mere perception of bias at the top of INEC could be enough to freeze trust in the 2027 cycle before it even begins.

​What do you think? Can a former partisan truly lead a neutral commission, or is it time for a change at the top of INEC? Let us know in the comments.