Senate President Godswill Akpabio has defended Joash Amupitan, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), against allegations of partisan bias linked to a social media post.
Recently, claims circulated online alleging that Amupitan operated a personal account on X and had used it to endorse or interact with a partisan post.
Speaking on Tuesday at the inauguration of the corporate headquarters of the National Revenue Service (NRS) in Abuja, Akpabio refuted claims that the tweet suggested political alignment, describing the statement as neutral.
“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,” Akpabio said.
He said the post in question was made before Amupitan assumed office as INEC chairman, when he was still a lecturer.
“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 said.
”He was not chairman of INEC. He was just a mere lecturer. Anybody can support anybody who he wishes to.”
The senate president, however, said there is the need for impartiality once in public office.
“But when you are on a seat, you have to think of the entire country and all the populace. And that’s what they are doing,” he said.
The controversy stemmed from a 2023 post originally shared by Dayo Israel, APC national youth leader, which resurfaced online.
Critics linked it to an account allegedly associated with Amupitan that replied with the phrase “Victory is sure”.
INEC has repeatedly rejected the claims, describing them as false and part of a coordinated misinformation campaign.
