DistantNews
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Technology

Forensic probe clears Amupitan of partisan social media posts - INEC

From The Punch · (15m ago) English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed it will pursue the arrest of individuals responsible for fabricating a fake X (formerly Twitter) account impersonating its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan.
  • A forensic investigation commissioned by INEC found that the allegations of Amupitan operating a partisan account were "fabricated, technically impossible and part of a coordinated disinformation campaign."
  • The investigation concluded that Prof. Amupitan does not operate any personal X account, and the disputed account was created in September 2022, with a key post being demonstrably impossible due to timestamp anomalies.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has taken a firm stance against online disinformation, announcing its intention to apprehend those behind a fabricated X (formerly Twitter) account that falsely linked its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to partisan social media activity. This decisive action follows a thorough forensic investigation that unequivocally exonerated the INEC chairman, labeling the claims as a "coordinated disinformation campaign."

fabricated, technically impossible and part of a coordinated disinformation campaign.

— INEC StatementDescribing the findings of the forensic investigation into the fake X account.

The investigation, conducted by independent cybersecurity experts, utilized advanced tools and data analysis, including X platform data, OSINT, and internet archive records. Its findings are stark: Prof. Amupitan has no personal X account, and all alleged posts attributed to him are fraudulent. The report specifically highlights the impossibility of a viral post, where a reply appeared 13 minutes before the original post it supposedly responded to, a technical anomaly that exposes the fabrication.

The X account attributed to Prof. Amupitan is a clear case of impersonation. All alleged posts, replies or statements linked to him are fraudulent and unverifiable.

— INEC Forensic ReportConclusion of the investigation regarding the impersonation of INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan.

This incident underscores a growing concern in Nigeria regarding the spread of unverified information and deliberate misinformation campaigns, particularly during sensitive periods. The INEC's proactive approach in commissioning a forensic probe and its commitment to pursuing legal action sends a strong message about its dedication to maintaining the integrity of information surrounding its operations and leadership. The Punch, as a leading Nigerian newspaper, reports on this development to inform the public about the measures being taken to combat fake news and protect the reputation of public institutions.

The alleged reply ‘Victory is sure’ was posted 13 minutes before the original post it responded to. This is physically impossible on any digital platform.

— INEC Forensic ReportHighlighting a key piece of evidence proving the fabrication of social media posts.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog