The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will not rely on artificial intelligence analysis or screenshots in its ongoing investigation into alleged digital impersonation involving its chairman, Joash Amupitan.
INEC’s ICT Director, Lawrence Bayode, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television on Monday while responding to resurfaced social media posts linked to an account allegedly associated with the commission’s chairman.
Bayode explained that the commission is working with security agencies and independent forensic experts to verify the authenticity of the accounts and content involved in the controversy.
“We are taking this further because even though we have referred this to security agencies, we rely on evidence. We are also going to be engaging a third party, for instance, forensic experts, to look into this,” he said.
He emphasised that the commission would not base its conclusions on unverified digital materials circulating online.
“I will not base my judgments on screenshots. I will not allow that to guide my conclusion,” Bayode added.
According to him, INEC has also initiated internal technical reviews as part of its broader investigation. He noted that the issue is being taken seriously as the commission prepares for future elections.
“We are already looking at it in-house. We are preparing for an election. This is happening,” he said.
Bayode also warned about the growing risks posed by digital impersonation and misinformation, particularly as the commission plans to expand its use of technology ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We are going to be deploying technology massively during the 2027 general election. If this is already happening now, then we need to ensure that we do the needful,” he said.
The ICT director described the situation as part of a broader trend of digital impersonation rather than an isolated case. He added that the social media account at the centre of the controversy had reportedly been renamed at some point, raising further concerns about manipulation.
Bayode also cautioned against relying on artificial intelligence tools to draw definitive conclusions. Responding to claims reportedly generated by the AI tool Grok, he warned that such systems can produce inaccurate outputs.
“You know, GROK honestly can hallucinate just like any modern artificial intelligence system,” he said, adding that AI-generated information must always be verified before being used in public communication or decision-making.
The controversy originated from a 2023 social media post by Dayo Israel, the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), celebrating electoral gains in his community. The post later resurfaced with claims that an account allegedly belonging to the INEC chairman responded with the phrase “Victory is sure,” prompting accusations of partisan involvement.
INEC has repeatedly dismissed the allegations, describing them as false and part of a coordinated misinformation campaign.
The commission insists that its chairman does not operate any personal account on X and has never engaged in partisan political commentary, adding that security agencies are working to identify those behind the impersonation.
