The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it will contract external forensic specialists to examine a batch of old tweets that have resurfaced online. The posts are alleged to have been posted from an account linked to INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan and appear to express support for former President Bola Tinubu. Lawrence Bayode, INEC's Director of ICT, told Channels TV's Morning Brief that the commission is treating the issue as a serious matter and will rely on independent expertise to verify the authenticity of the messages. No further details on the timeline or the identity of the forensic firm were provided. INEC's move follows public calls for clarity after the tweets were circulated on social media, prompting concerns about possible partisan bias within the electoral body.
Hiring forensic analysts signals that INEC is confronting a credibility challenge directly linked to its chairman, Joash Amupitan. By seeking an external verdict on the pro‑Tinubu tweets, the commission is attempting to distance itself from any perception that the posts reflect institutional partisanship.
The controversy emerges at a time when Nigeria's electoral environment is already under intense scrutiny, with opposition parties and civil society groups demanding transparent processes ahead of upcoming elections. Lawrence Bayode's statement that the matter is being treated "as a serious issue" underscores the pressure on INEC to demonstrate impartiality, especially given the political weight of Tinubu's candidacy.
If the forensic review confirms the tweets are authentic, it could erode public confidence in INEC's neutrality, affecting voters who already doubt the fairness of the electoral system. Conversely, a finding that the messages are fabricated may reassure segments of the electorate but could also fuel further speculation about hidden agendas within the commission.
This episode fits a broader pattern of Nigerian institutions being pulled into partisan disputes, where even procedural steps such as hiring experts become flashpoints for political debate.
