By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has denied any prior affiliation with President Bola Tinubu or the All Progressives Congress (APC). However, newly uncovered online evidence appears to contradict his office’s official statement.

On Friday, Amupitan, through his spokesperson Adedayo Oketola, rejected claims that he had been a supporter of the president. Oketola insisted that Amupitan is a neutral appointee, as required by the constitution to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.

“He does not own or operate any personal account on X (formerly Twitter),” Oketola said in the statement. “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.”

But open-source intelligence (OSINT) findings suggest otherwise.

The X account @joashamupitan posted “victory is sure” in March 2023 in response to a message from APC chieftain Dayo Israel, who had announced that the party had won seven out of ten polling units in an opposition stronghold predominantly populated by Igbo voters.

Further investigation revealed that the account was created using the email address amu***anj@yahoo.com—the same email found on a curriculum vitae attributed to Amupitan. That CV also listed his former institutional email, amu***anj@unijos.edu.ng, from his time as a professor at the University of Jos.

To verify the Yahoo email address, the platform sent a notification to the linked phone number: 0803***4099. That same number is tied to an Opay customer account under the username “Joash Ojo Amupitan.” Opay accounts typically use a customer’s phone number without the leading zero—in this case, 8035074099.

When reached by the Peoples Gazette on Saturday for comment on the new findings, Oketola said: “We stand by our statement. A statement was issued yesterday and that is our official position on the matter.”

The connection between the X account, the Yahoo email, and a phone number bearing Amupitan’s full name raises questions about the INEC chairman’s denial of any political allegiance to the APC or President Tinubu, who is widely expected to seek re-election in 2027.

Abbas Yushau Yusuf

An APC chieftain, Inuwa Waya, has said the wave of political defections and realignments currently unfolding in Kano State reflects the evolving dynamics of Nigeria’s political environment as the country approaches another election cycle.

Waya made the remarks during an interactive session with the Kano Online Media Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, where he addressed recent developments in party politics and governance in the state.

He explained that periods leading up to elections are often characterized by strategic political movements, as individuals and groups reassess their positions in line with their ambitions and ideological goals. According to him, such transitions are not unusual but rather a defining feature of Nigeria’s democratic process.

“It is a time of changing parties by individuals and also a time for alignment and realignment,” Waya said, noting that the approach of elections tends to expose political bottlenecks due to the fluid nature of the system.

He emphasized that political parties, by definition, are associations of individuals and groups with shared objectives. As a result, politicians naturally gravitate toward platforms that best align with their goals and offer opportunities for achieving them.

Speaking specifically on Kano politics, Waya pointed to the decision of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to join the All Progressives Congress, attributing the move to internal crises within the New Nigeria Peoples Party.

He said the challenges within the NNPP, including ongoing legal disputes, created obstacles that hindered effective governance. According to him, the governor’s defection has provided the stability needed to focus on developmental projects and deliver on the expectations of the people.

Waya further argued that political desperation among key actors often disrupts societal stability, but maintained that the governor’s move to the APC has helped restore order in Kano’s political space.

He also commended the administration of Governor Yusuf, stating that it has continued to make meaningful impacts on the lives of residents across the state.

Drawing from political theory, Waya referenced British scholar Alan Ball, noting that politics involves everyone in society, from elites to grassroots actors such as traders and artisans. He reiterated the idea that humans are inherently political beings.

Waya future stressed that politics should serve as a unifying force aimed at advancing society and ensuring good governance. He called on political actors to prioritize collaboration and the collective interest of the people over personal ambitions.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed its planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise till after the 2027 general election.

In a statement on Friday, Mohammed Haruna, INEC’s national commissioner and chairman of the information and voter education committee, said the decision was made at a meeting between the commission and resident electoral commissioners (RECs).

“Following deliberations, the commission resolved to postpone the exercise until after the 2027 General Election,” the statement reads.

Since the Commission’s resolve to embark on the revalidation exercise, reactions have trailed, especially from the opposition coalition camp, the ADC.

It cited an allegation of wanting to sabotage eligible electorates in favour of the ruling party.