The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the National Assembly of Nigeria to investigate allegations surrounding a controversial X (formerly Twitter) account linked to Joash Amupitan, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a statement on Monday, the group urged lawmakers to exercise their constitutional oversight powers to conduct a “credible, impartial, transparent and effective” probe into the claims and INEC’s response.
Amupitan has come under heavy criticism after an X account with the user name “Joash Ojo Amupitan” surfaced online on Saturday with previous posts showing support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 elections.
INEC had, in a statement, denied the allegations, describing them as ” false and malicious.”
The electoral umpire’s ICT director said Grok linking the said account to the email and phone number of the commission’s chairman is “a hallucination.”
CONCERNS ABOUT THE ALLEGATION
SERAP said the allegations, alongside the commission’s reaction, raise “serious concerns” about the integrity and impartiality of the electoral body, warning that they strike at the core of public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
“The credibility of INEC is essential to the integrity and legitimacy of Nigeria’s electoral process, and any allegations that may undermine this credibility must be promptly, thoroughly, transparently and effectively investigated,” the statement read.
The organisation noted that under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the National Assembly is empowered to investigate the conduct of public officials and institutions in order to expose corruption, inefficiency or abuse of office.
It added that invoking these powers in the present case would serve the public interest by promoting accountability and reinforcing trust in the electoral system.
“No public official or institution is above scrutiny, and the National Assembly has a constitutional duty to ensure that allegations of wrongdoing are not ignored or swept under the carpet,” SERAP said.
The group also referenced Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights frameworks, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, noting that these instruments require prompt, credible and transparent investigations into issues affecting public trust and governance.
SERAP urged lawmakers to ensure due process in any inquiry and to make their findings public, stressing that transparency is critical to restoring confidence in the electoral process.
“Where there is sufficient admissible evidence of wrongdoing, appropriate measures must be taken in accordance with the law,” the organisation added.
It maintained that the independence and impartiality of INEC are fundamental to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections, warning that any doubts about the conduct of those overseeing elections must be urgently addressed.
