The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed artificial intelligence (AI) outputs and social media screenshots as unreliable evidence in the ongoing controversy surrounding alleged X (formerly Twitter) posts linked to its chairman.

INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Lawrence Bayode, stated this on Monday during an interview on Channels Television, where he addressed claims tied to a social media account purportedly associated with the Commission’s chairman.

Bayode stressed that the Commission would rely strictly on verifiable and forensic evidence in determining the authenticity of the account and the content circulating online.

“We rely on evidence. I will not base my judgments on screenshots. I will not allow that to guide my conclusion,” he said.

He disclosed that INEC has engaged security agencies and is bringing in independent forensic experts to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

“We are taking this further. Beyond referring the issue to security agencies, we are also engaging third-party forensic experts to examine the situation,” he added.

The controversy follows the resurfacing of a 2023 post by APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, which celebrated electoral success in an Igbo-dominated community.

The post was later linked by critics to an alleged response from an account believed to belong to the INEC chairman, sparking claims of partisanship.

However, INEC has repeatedly denied any connection, maintaining that its chairman does not operate a personal X account and has never engaged in partisan political commentary on social media.

Bayode described the development as part of a broader pattern of digital impersonation, warning that the issue extends beyond a single account.

He also noted that publicly available information, including phone numbers and email addresses, could be exploited by malicious actors to create misleading digital identities.

“What we are seeing is something bigger. This is digital impersonation,”.

“Anyone who wants to create havoc can use information in the public domain and manipulate it for this kind of activity,” he said.

Addressing claims generated by AI tool GROK, which had been cited by some commentators as evidence, Bayode cautioned against relying on artificial intelligence outputs without proper verification.

“GROK, like any modern AI system, can hallucinate. Its outputs must be verified before conclusions are drawn,” he added.

He added that INEC is already conducting internal technical reviews as part of its investigation while continuing preparations for future elections.

Bayode warned that the incident highlights emerging digital threats that could undermine electoral integrity, particularly as the Commission plans to expand the deployment of technology in the 2027 general elections.

We are already looking at it in-house, even as we prepare for upcoming elections.

“If this is already happening now, then we need to ensure we take the necessary steps to address it before then,” he said.

INEC reiterated that the allegations are false and part of a coordinated misinformation campaign, adding that it is working with relevant authorities to identify and prosecute those behind the impersonation.