This was disclosed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, in a statement issued on Sunday, 12th July 2026.

According to the statement, the deadline for submission, as contained in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election, was originally fixed for Saturday, 11th July, 2026.

The Commission has now extended the deadline to midnight on Tuesday, 14th July, 2026.

Commissioner Haruna explained that the decision to extend the deadline followed an appeal by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), made on behalf of political parties that were unable to upload the names and personal particulars of their candidates within the scheduled timeline.

He said the extension underscores the Commission’s commitment to ensuring inclusivity in its practices, while acting within the ambit of the law.

The Commission enjoined political parties to take advantage of the window of opportunity and ensure that all necessary details are uploaded before the expiration of the new deadline.

The ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise by INEC is a vital opportunity for every eligible citizen to secure their voice in shaping the future of our communities. Your vote is your right, your power, and your tool for demanding accountable leadership.

The CVR allows:

* First-time voters who are 18 years and above to register.

* Registered voters to transfer their registration to another polling unit.

* Replacement of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

* Correction or update of voter information and biodata.

The journey to ending bad governance begins with registering to vote. Do not be left out. Visit the nearest INEC registration center today, complete or update your registration, and prepare to participate in the democratic process.

Register today. Vote tomorrow. Shape the future.

Your vote, your power, your future!

In the advisory signed by the group’s Executive Director Rosemary Ajayi, DigiAfricaLab notes that online information, conversations and activities continue to shape elections and civic participation in increasingly complex ways.

The advisory reads in full:
DigiAfricaLab observes that election-related digital threats have evolved significantly over the past decade. Our analysis draws on more than a decade of experience monitoring elections, information manipulation, online discourse and digital threats in Nigeria.

During the voting period, DigiAfricaLab will observe developments in the digital information environment that may affect electoral participation, public confidence, community relations and the safety of voters, election officials, observers, journalists and security personnel, including harmful content, coordinated manipulation, participation suppression narratives and
online activities that may be inconsistent with Nigeria’s electoral legislation.

DigiAfricaLab acknowledges recent public statements by political actors indicating their
intention to comply with the campaign silence period established under Nigerian electoral law and encourages all stakeholders to respect these provisions throughout the voting period.

While false and misleading information remain important concerns, DigiAfricaLab observes that election-related digital threats extend beyond questions of whether information is true or false. Some digital threats are designed not only to deceive, but also to intimidate, exclude, manipulate or discourage participation.

Key Areas of Concern
False Security Alerts and Panic-Inducing Claims
DigiAfricaLab notes the circulation in recent months of false claims, videos and photographs alleging attacks by bandits and other violent actors in communities across Nigeria, including claims linked to locations in Ekiti State.

Such claims have the potential to create fear, discourage participation and undermine public confidence in safety and security.

Participation Suppression Narratives and Identity-Based Incitement
DigiAfricaLab expresses concern regarding participation suppression narratives and other activities that may discourage, intimidate, exclude or prevent eligible citizens from participating in the electoral process.

These may include claims that certain groups should not vote, that non-indigenes have no
right to participate in the election, that individuals should stay away from polling units because of their ethnicity, language, religion or place of origin, or that participation is unsafe or futile.

DigiAfricaLab will pay particular attention to narratives that seek to exclude, stigmatise or
intimidate individuals or communities on the basis of ethnicity, religion, language, place of
origin or perceived political affiliation.

Such narratives may discourage participation, undermine social cohesion and contribute to an environment in which eligible citizens feel unwelcome, unsafe or unable to participate.

False Claims About Election Stakeholders
Accredited election officials, observers and journalists perform important functions during elections.

DigiAfricaLab notes that false claims portraying accredited stakeholders as “fake”, operating illegally or participating in misconduct may place individuals at risk and undermine confidence in the electoral process.

Manipulated, Recycled and Synthetic Media
DigiAfricaLab notes that previous elections have demonstrated how old photographs, videos, fabricated documents and unrelated incidents can be repurposed and presented as evidence of current events.

Advances in artificial intelligence have increased the risk that manipulated, synthetic or AI-generated content may circulate during the voting period.

Coordinated Manipulation and Artificial Amplification
DigiAfricaLab observes that coordinated posting, automation and networks of accounts can be used to manufacture the appearance of widespread public sentiment or support.

The popularity of a claim online should not be treated as evidence of its authenticity.

Unofficial Results and Premature Outcome Claims
DigiAfricaLab notes that voting periods frequently generate rumours regarding results before official announcements have been made.

Citizens should exercise caution regarding unofficial result claims circulated online and rely on official electoral processes and announcements.

Recommendations
DigiAfricaLab encourages political parties, candidates, supporters, media organisations,
technology platforms and citizens to act responsibly throughout the voting period and to avoid actions that may undermine participation, public confidence or community safety.

Political actors should avoid intimidation, participation suppression narratives and
identity-based targeting. Media organisations should prioritise verification and exercise caution when reporting viral content, screenshots and AI-generated materials.

Technology platforms should maintain heightened vigilance for election-related harms and respond promptly to reports involving impersonation, intimidation, coordinated manipulation and harmful
synthetic media.

Citizens should verify election-related information before sharing it and rely on credible and official sources.

Conclusion
Digital threats are not merely online phenomena. They can influence public confidence, discourage participation, damage community relations and place voters, election officials, observers, journalists and security personnel at risk.

As Ekiti State prepares to vote, DigiAfricaLab encourages all stakeholders to contribute to an environment defined by evidence, responsibility, inclusion and respect for democratic participation.

Justice Peter Lifu ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the affected parties, ruling that they failed to secure 25 per cent of the votes in the last general elections in compliance with the provisions of the law.

The five political parties are the ADC, Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Judtice Lifu, who earlier dismissed all the multiple preliminary objections filed by the defendants, ordered INEC not to allow the parties participate in the subsequent elections, including the 2027 general polls, having failed to meet the constitutional threshold.

A group, the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators had filed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026 against the five political parties.

The plaintiff, who also joined the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) in the suit, named INEC as 1st defendant.

The forum argued that the affected political parties failed to meet constitutional requirements relating to electoral spread and performance.

It contended that political parties were required to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in prescribed elections to remain relevant under the law.

It, therefore, urged the court to order the deregistration of the parties, insisting that none of the defendants had effectively countered the arguments.

Details later:

Prof. Amupitan disclosed on Tuesday, 9th June, 2026, while delivering his opening remarks at the Second Quarterly Consultative Meeting with Leaders of Political Parties held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

The INEC Chairman told party leaders that in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026 — Youth Party v. INEC, delivered on 20 May 2026, the Federal High Court questioned certain timelines in the Commission’s timetable. In a subsequent judgment in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/720/2026 — Social Democratic Party (SDP) v. INEC, delivered on 26 May 2026, a separate court affirmed the Commission’s authority to issue an electoral timetable but nullified certain timelines relating to the nomination and substitution of candidates.

“These judgments raise important legal questions concerning the extent of the Commission’s constitutional and statutory powers in coordinating and regulating electoral activities,” Prof. Amupitan said.

He said the Commission had filed appeals against both decisions and taken the necessary legal steps to obtain authoritative pronouncements from the Appellate Courts, stressing that the activities contained in the timetable were not isolated events but interrelated operational processes essential to the orderly conduct of elections.

Prof. Amupitan listed critical electoral activities for which the Electoral Act prescribed no express statutory timelines but which must nonetheless be accommodated within the overall electoral calendar. These include the submission and verification of party membership registers, the monitoring of party primaries across the Federation, the pre-upload of primary results on the Commission’s portal, the printing of ballot papers and result sheets, quality assurance procedures, the configuration of BVAS machines, and compliance with statutory obligations such as inviting political parties to inspect election materials pursuant to Section 42 of the Electoral Act 2026.

“The Commission therefore considers it imperative that all electoral activities be harmonised within a coherent and workable framework that promotes certainty, transparency, administrative efficiency and equal treatment of all political parties,” he said, assuring the public that notwithstanding the pending appeals, the Commission remained firmly committed to conducting the 2027 General Election in strict compliance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

Turning to preparations for the Ekiti State Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday, 20 June 2026, the Chairman said the Commission’s Register of Voters for the election contained 1,059,360 registered voters, reflecting the addition of 66,664 new registrants from the Continuous Voter Registration exercise to the 2023 base register of 987,647. He said 2,103 double registrations had been invalidated to protect the integrity of the register.

Prof. Amupitan said logistics arrangements, technology deployment and the training of election officials were all proceeding according to schedule, reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to the simultaneous opening of all 2,445 Polling Units across the 16 Local Government Areas of Ekiti State at 8:30 a.m. on Election Day.

He noted that on the same day, the Commission would conduct bye-elections in six constituencies: Enugu North Senatorial District, Nasarawa North Senatorial District, Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Ondo South Senatorial District, Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency in Kano State, and Zuru State Constituency in Kebbi State, adding that the same operational standards, technological safeguards and security arrangements deployed for the Ekiti election would apply to all six bye-elections.

The INEC Chairman also drew attention to the Osun State Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday, 15 August 2026, urging all political parties to comply strictly with the prescribed timelines and regulatory requirements already being implemented under that election’s timetable and schedule of activities.

On candidate nomination for the 2027 General Election, Prof. Amupitan announced that the Commission would on Friday, 26 June 2026 issue official access codes to all political parties for the Candidate Nomination Portal, through which parties would upload the names and particulars of nominated candidates. He warned that the portal was fully automated and would close without extension at the expiration of the prescribed period, urging parties to ensure their ICT personnel and relevant officers were adequately prepared ahead of the deadline.

He also called on political parties to intensify voter education and mobilisation efforts in support of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise, urging eligible Nigerians who had attained the age of eighteen years, as well as those seeking transfers or corrections of their records, to register and subsequently collect their Permanent Voter Cards.

Prof. Amupitan expressed concern over pending court cases bordering on the internal leadership of several political parties, describing such litigation as an unnecessary distraction and urging the parties to resolve the disputes without further delay.

Responding on behalf of the political parties, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Dr. Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, backed the Commission’s decision to appeal the judgments, describing the conflicting pronouncements as a source of confusion for parties, candidates and other stakeholders that had introduced avoidable uncertainty into the democratic process.

Dr. Dantalle however used the occasion to raise a broader set of concerns, calling on the National Assembly to undertake a comprehensive review of the Electoral Act 2026 to address what he described as operational deficiencies exposed during the recently concluded party primaries. He specifically identified Section 84(2) of the Act, which restricts parties to either consensus or direct primaries while eliminating the indirect primary option, as a source of considerable strain on the nomination exercise that closed on 30 May 2026.

“Electoral laws should promote democratic participation, strengthen political institutions, and advance the national interest rather than create avoidable obstacles to effective political competition,” Dr. Dantalle said.

The IPAC chairman said the restriction had in many instances compelled parties to adopt the consensus option despite the existence of multiple aspirants, with some candidates reportedly pressured to withdraw after preferred choices had already been identified by influential party stakeholders. He noted that several such disputes had since found their way to the courts. He added that IPAC had raised these concerns as far back as its General Assembly meeting on 26 February 2026 and had communicated them to national institutions and the international community, including the United Nations, the European Union and ECOWAS.

Dr. Dantalle also condemned recent incidents of political violence in Osun State, calling on all political actors to embrace issue-based campaigns and exercise restraint as the country approaches the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections and the 2027 General Election cycle.

“No political ambition is worth the loss of human life, the destruction of property, or the destabilisation of communities,” he said.

The Commission, in a statement issued on Tuesday 2nd June, 2026, by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said its internal audit trail had successfully identified the user account through which a specific voter record was accessed and subsequently disclosed without authorisation.

The statement was in response to allegations circulating on social media and in some sections of the media regarding the alleged unauthorised access to the CVR database and the publication of information relating to a candidate in recent party primaries in the Federal Capital Territory.

National Commissioner Haruna said the Commission took the allegation seriously and had moved swiftly to establish the facts surrounding the incident.

He explained that authorised INEC Registration Officers participating in the CVR exercise were granted controlled access to specific components of the system solely for the purpose of registering new applicants, processing transfer requests and updating voter records, stressing that such access was restricted to official duties only and withdrawn at the conclusion of the exercise.

The Commission said relevant personnel had already been questioned and that all units connected with the incident were cooperating fully with the investigation.

The IVEC Chairman stated that the Commission was also examining all technical, administrative and operational factors associated with the matter in order to establish individual responsibility, determine the circumstances surrounding the use of the credentials and identify any breach of internal access-control protocols before taking appropriate action.

He was categorical that the incident did not represent a compromise of the Commission’s broader voter registration infrastructure or the personal data of over 90 million registered voters.

“The Commission takes the security, confidentiality and integrity of voter data with the utmost seriousness and remains committed to transparency, institutional integrity, and the protection of voters’ personal information,” Haruna stated.

He Commission further disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS) had independently commenced its own investigation into the matter and that INEC would continue to cooperate fully with all relevant security agencies.

Commissioner Haruna warned that the Commission would not hesitate to refer any person found culpable for appropriate legal action.

He urged members of the public and the media to disregard unfounded speculations while investigations remained ongoing, assuring that the Commission would keep the public informed of its final findings and any measures taken in due course.

The Obidient Movement has called on all Nigerians who are eligible to vote (18 years and above) and are yet to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to seize the opportunity provided by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

“No responsible Nigerian should sit on the fence at this defining moment in our nation’s democratic journey towards a New Nigeria,” the organization said in a statement issued by its national coordinator, Yunusa Tanko. “This crucial nationwide exercise is ongoing and will end on Friday, July 10, 2026. This is the last opportunity for Nigerians to secure their PVCs in preparation for the forthcoming 2027 General Elections.

“Our movement is borne out of a shared yearning for good governance. We affirm that active participation in the electoral process is not just a constitutional right, but also a sacred duty we owe ourselves and future generations. Our PVCs are the key to unlocking the many untapped potentials of this great nation and ending corruption, insecurity, unemployment, and poverty.

“We call on civil society organisations, the media, religious bodies, private organisations, government institutions, traders, community leaders, and families to mobilise Nigerians on the need for voter registration and active participation in the voting process. Democracy only thrives when citizens actively participate in electing those who govern them, while voter apathy encourages poor leadership.

“If you need to replace your lost PVC, transfer your polling unit, or correct your data, quickly log on to the dedicated CVR online portal at: https://cvr.inecnigeria.org
Alternatively, visit the nearest INEC State or Local Government Area office nationwide between 9:00am and 3:00pm.

“The general public is also informed that INEC will display the register of voters from Thursday, July 23, 2026, to Wednesday, July 29, 2026. This exercise will allow the public to scrutinise the published voters’ records and enable the Commission to correct any observed anomalies.

“We urge Nigerians not to postpone collecting their PVCs. We must register to vote. We must vote, and we shall defend our mandate.
Remember, a registered voter with a PVC today is a powerful voice for change tomorrow.”

This is the conclusion of a weeks-long research into the issue presented today to the media by Digital Africa Research and Safety Lab (DigiAfricaLab).

The controversy began on April 10, 2026, when viral social media posts alleged that the INEC Chairman tweeted a partisan comment — “Victory is sure” — in response to another user, who had announced the victory of an APC candidate.

Amidst ccalls for Amupitan’s resignation on alleged grounds of impartiality, several groups – including INEC – have posted what they said was evidence in support of either of the two sides.

However, in its report entitled: Verification, Evidence, and Public Trust, DigiAfricaLab urged Nigerians not to be swayed by analysis conducted through Grok or other such apps, saying they only aggregate and sum up materials that are already in public domain and lack the ability to provide hidden materials.

“Resolving this matter requires a shift away from speculation, and from conclusions that extend beyond what the available evidence can support, towards lawful and transparent, evidence-based processes,’ DigiAfricaLab said in the report. “Efforts to obtain clarity should prioritise access to verifiable platform-level data through appropriate legal channels. At the same time, responses must remain consistent with due process and the rights of individuals, and should avoid actions that may create fear, suppress legitimate expression, or introduce disproportionate or opaque enforcement responses that undermine public confidence in the rule of law.”

The organisation also said it was exploring lawful pathways to obtain the platform-level data required to determine ownership and control of the accounts in question, where necessary, through appropriate legal processes.

” DigiAfricaLab’s role is not to speculate, but to ensure that questions of public interest are resolved through verifiable evidence. Until such evidence is obtained, DigiAfricaLab will not draw conclusions about this specific case,” it said.

Read the report in full:

Verification, Evidence, and Public Trust
Digital Africa Research and Safety Lab (DigiAfricaLab) has observed the ongoing public debate regarding two Twitter (also known as X) accounts alleged to be linked to the Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, including claims of partisanship and calls for resignation.

This is a moment that requires restraint and, above all, verification grounded in evidence.
Impersonation is not new within Nigeria’s digital environment.

Over the past decade, DigiAfricaLab has documented hundreds of impersonation and malicious parody accounts across platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, including cases involving activists, public officials, institutions, and previous INEC leadership. Our monitoring shows that accounts are frequently renamed, repurposed, and reused across moments of public attention.

DigiAfricaLab has also documented cases where profile labels such as “parody”, “fan account”, “faux” or similar descriptors are added or modified over time, particularly after accounts have attracted scrutiny. In many instances, individuals are unaware that they are being impersonated.

It is also important to note that while a Twitter account’s numerical identifier (Twitter ID) remains constant, its displayed identity, name, and content can change over time. However, establishing ownership or control of an account requires access to platform-level data.

DigiAfricaLab therefore notes, with concern, the growing reliance on output from AI tools such as Grok, which are increasingly circulated as investigative findings or factual conclusions without independent verification. Grok simply aggregates publicly available information. It does not have access to platform-level data, and often presents inaccurate and self-contradictory information with confidence.

DigiAfricaLab has also reviewed the recently circulated forensic report by DIHIL, and INEC’s subsequent public statement.

While efforts to investigate the matter are welcome, it is important to distinguish between: the absence of a verified linkage between an individual and an account, and
conclusive proof of impersonation or fabrication.
These are not the same.

Certain claims presented as definitive findings, including conclusions drawn from the absence of Wayback Machine records, current non-appearance of content on a platform, or inferred metadata, require careful scrutiny. Such indicators may raise questions, but on their own do not provide conclusive forensic proof of authorship, control, or historical activity.

Open-source and publicly inferred data can support investigation, but cannot substitute for platform-verified records when determining account ownership or control.

DigiAfricaLab emphasises that claims presented as “forensic” should meet clear standards of methodological transparency, evidentiary sufficiency, and reproducibility.

As Nigeria approaches the 2027 General Elections, the credibility and independence of INEC, and of its leadership, are foundational to public trust in the electoral process. Claims that are not grounded in verifiable evidence, regardless of direction, carry risks that can erode that trust.

At this stage, DigiAfricaLab has not obtained sufficient evidence to determine whether the accounts in question (Twitter ID: 1567086242164101120 and Twitter ID: 2042619883771338752) were operated by the individual concerned or by a third party.

It is therefore essential to avoid two errors:
prematurely attributing the accounts to the individual concerned, and prematurely concluding that the accounts are an impersonation.

Resolving this matter requires a shift away from speculation, and from conclusions that extend beyond what the available evidence can support, towards lawful and transparent, evidence-based processes.

Efforts to obtain clarity should prioritise access to verifiable platform-level data through appropriate legal channels. At the same time, responses must remain consistent with due process and the rights of individuals, and should avoid actions that may create fear, suppress legitimate expression, or introduce disproportionate or opaque enforcement responses that undermine public confidence in the rule of law.

This moment also highlights the need for clearer institutional protocols for handling contested digital evidence, including defined thresholds for public attribution and independent verification.

These considerations have immediate implications for how this issue is reported, analysed, and discussed in the public domain.

Guidance for Media, Analysts, and Public Commentary
In reporting and public discussion of this matter, DigiAfricaLab emphasises the following:
*Claims of account ownership or impersonation should not be treated as established fact without platform-level verification
*Absence of evidence (including non-existent Wayback Machine archives or current non-visibility of content) should not be presented as definitive proof
*Outputs from AI tools should not be relied upon as forensic conclusions
*Conclusions should not extend beyond what the available evidence can support
*Accuracy, not speed or amplification, should guide public communication in matters with significant implications for institutional trust.

DigiAfricaLab encourages:
*Media organisations to prioritise verification over repetition, and to avoid presenting unverified or inferential claims as established fact
*Public commentators to exercise caution in amplifying claims that have not been supported by platform-level evidence
*Civil society actors to support efforts to obtain lawful and transparent access to relevant platform data
*X Corp to cooperate transparently with legitimate requests for information in matters of public interest and national security.

DigiAfricaLab is exploring lawful pathways to obtain the platform-level data required to determine ownership and control of the accounts in question, where necessary, through appropriate legal processes.

This remains the central question:
What evidence exists to establish who controlled @JoashAmupitan (Twitter ID: 1567086242164101120, created September 2022) and @JoashAmupitan (Twitter ID: 2042619883771338752, created April 2026), and when?

Only X Corp can provide a definitive answer.

DigiAfricaLab is convening an independent expert review of the available evidence in this case, with a view to strengthening clarity on what can and cannot be established.

DigiAfricaLab’s role is not to speculate, but to ensure that questions of public interest are resolved through verifiable evidence. Until such evidence is obtained, DigiAfricaLab will not draw conclusions about this specific case.

About DigiAfricaLab
Digital Africa Research and Safety Lab (DigiAfricaLab) identifies, prevents, and mitigates digital threats to civic participation and elections.
Nigeria operations are implemented through a registered non-profit entity.

According to a press statement issued from the commission’s state headquarters in Akure on Monday, April 20, 2026, Agboke officially took over the reins of the commission in the state today following his redeployment from Osun State where he previously served as REC.

The statement, signed by the Administrative Secretary, Tadése Adenike, described Agboke, a native of Abeokuta, as a seasoned legal scholar and an expert in election management.
A member of the Nigerian Bar since 2006, his career in electoral administration spans over a decade.

His previous roles include: Member: Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) between 2012 and 2016.

Resident Electoral Commissioner: Served in similar capacities in Ondo, Oyo, and Osun states.

He notably supervised the 2019 and 2023 General Elections.

The Commission expressed high hopes for Agboke’s tenure, citing his reputation for “integrity, transparency, and professionalism” as key assets for the upcoming tasks in the state.

“The Commission expresses confidence in his ability to strengthen electoral integrity and deliver credible, free, and fair elections in Ondo State,” the statement reads.

The Commission wishes to state categorically that this allegation is entirely baseless, a total fabrication, and a figment of the imagination of its purveyors. For the avoidance of doubt, the INEC Chairman does not own or operate any personal account on X. He has at no time engaged in partisan commentary, nor has he ever associated himself with any political leaning or activity in his private or public capacity.

This contrived X post is a desperate attempt to impugn the integrity and neutrality of the Chairman at a critical period when the Commission is focused on significant electoral reforms and preparations for upcoming polls. It is a needless distraction designed to stir public distrust in the electoral umpire.

Beyond this partisan mischief, the Commission is aware that cybercriminals have been on the prowl, utilising fake social media accounts in the Chairman’s name to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians. We wish to place it on record that several of such fraudulent accounts had been identified and reported to security agencies in the past. This latest fabrication is merely a continuation of a criminal pattern aimed at exploiting the Commission’s profile for illicit gains.

The Commission will not fold its arms while the character of its leadership is being assassinated by digital imposters and mischief-makers. We wish to notify the public that we are working in close collaboration with relevant security agencies and cyber-intelligence units to track and identify the individuals or groups behind this identity theft and misinformation.

Let it be clearly understood that the Commission will ensure that these imposters face the full wrath of the law. Identity theft and the dissemination of deepfake or forged social media interactions are criminal offenses under the Cybercrimes Act. Those responsible for this mischief will be tracked and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others who believe the digital space is a safe haven for criminality.

The general public is hereby urged to disregard this falsehood in its entirety. We will continue to disseminate official information regarding the Commission and the Chairman’s activities only through our verified institutional channels and formal press statements.

The Commission remains undeterred and fully committed to its mandate of delivering free, fair, and credible elections for all Nigerians.