Amid the ongoing political controversy surrounding the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, the commission has debunked allegations that it copied a recent press statement from President Bola Tinubu’s media aide.

Insisting that such claims are false and misleading, the Commission said reports suggesting that a statement it issued to debunk allegations against its Chairman was identical to one earlier posted by Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to the President on New Media.

The controversy followed INEC’s reposting of a statement originally released to counter claims that Amupitan had endorsed a partisan post on X or operated a personal account on the platform in 2023.

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However, a report by Peoples Gazette alleged that Olusegun had published a similar or identical statement hours before INEC released its own, prompting criticism and raising questions about the commission’s independence.

Some social media users also questioned the timing and similarity of the statements, suggesting possible coordination.

Debunking the purported report, the electoral commission’s Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, described the allegations as “Entirely baseless” and warned about cybercriminals using fake accounts in the Chairman’s name.

“Any circulation of the statement outside the Commission’s official channels was done independently and not coordinated by INEC,” the commission said.

“The publication… is fake, misleading, and a misrepresentation of facts,” the statement partly read.

Reaffirming its neutrality, the commission stated, “The Commission remains strictly non-partisan and urges the public to disregard misleading interpretations of its actions.”

It also advised Nigerians to rely only on its verified platforms for credible information.

The development comes amid increased scrutiny of the electoral body ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition parties raising concerns over its leadership and recent decisions.