The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, defended INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan after a resurfaced X post linked to the electoral chief sparked accusations of partisan bias. Critics pointed to a screenshot showing the phrase "victory is sure" attributed to an account associated with Amupitan, posted in response to a comment by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Youth Leader who claimed he guaranteed his party's win in a region traditionally held by the opposition. The allegation resurfaced ahead of the 2027 electoral calendar and was framed as evidence that the INEC head had endorsed the ruling party during the 2023 election cycle.
Akpabio addressed the controversy on Tuesday at the inauguration of the National Revenue Service's corporate headquarters in Abuja. He argued the tweet was taken out of context and did not mention any political party. "They brought out a tweet where they said the chairman of INEC said victory is sure. But he didn't say victory is sure for APC. He did not say victory is sure for PDP. He just said victory is sure," he said.
He added that the statement pre‑dated Amupitan's appointment, noting the former lecturer was a private citizen at the time. "And the man said that it's manipulated. Nobody wants to hear. But for me, whether it is manipulated or not, he said 'victory is sure'," Akpabio observed. Emphasising the line between private conduct and the neutrality required of public office, he said, "He was not chairman of INEC. He was just a mere lecturer. Anybody can support anybody he wishes to." He warned that office‑holders should think of the whole country, not partisan interests. INEC has repeatedly denied any link to the alleged account, describing the narrative as false, misleading and part of a coordinated effort to discredit the commission ahead of future elections.
Akpabio's vigorous defence of Amupitan reveals how quickly electoral officials become pawns in partisan battles, especially when a former private comment is resurrected for political gain.
The episode taps into lingering mistrust from the 2023 polls, where opposition figures seized on a pre‑appointment remark to question INEC's impartiality ahead of the 2027 cycle. By framing the tweet as a manipulation, supporters of the chairman argue the controversy is a deliberate
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