By Akinwale Kasali
Adewole Adebayo, former Presidential Candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, during the 2023 Polls has joined the league of opposition Parties querying the Integrity of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, boss, Prof. Joash Amupitan.
Adebayo said that if an alleged X account (former Twitter) linked to Amupitan is eventually confirmed to be his, then his Integrity needs to be questioned.
The former SDP Presidential Candidate made this assertion while on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, stating that the controversy surrounding the account goes beyond technical arguments and boils down to public confidence in the electoral body.
Adebayo added that the situation could raise serious questions if the account is traced to the INEC Chairman despite his denial.
“If it is traced to him and he denies it, then it raises questions about integrity,” Adebayo said.
He added that the issue was significant because the credibility of the electoral umpire depends largely on public trust.
He also noted that although digital content could sometimes be manipulated, stressing that technological tools exist to verify the ownership of online accounts.
“It is well known that in the digital space, you could manipulate anything, but there is forensic tracing of identity,” he stated.
According to him, the matter could be resolved through judicial or legislative processes.
“It is either someone will go to court to challenge his qualification on grounds of partisanship and present evidence or the National Assembly will conduct an investigation, possibly through its INEC committees,” he added.
The SDP Chieftain however clarified that even if the account were proven to belong to Amupitan, it would not automatically disqualify him from serving as INEC chairman.
He explained that the law requires only that the individual not belong to any political party at the time of appointment.
Adebayo further stated, “The requirement is that at the time of appointment, you should not be a member of any political party. It does not mean you could not have been a member in the past or that you did not vote.
“Someone who voted in 2023 can still become INEC chairman in 2025.”
Adebayo stressed that the central issue remains honesty and public confidence in the electoral process.
“In a simple matter like this, if you are already lying to the public and we are to trust you with determining election outcomes, then it becomes a question of integrity,” he added.
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