INEC Reacts To Twitter Account Liking Anti-Peter Obi’s Tweet After Backlash

• INEC faced allegations of bias against Peter Obi on Wednesday.

• The allegations came after the electoral body’s official Twitter handle liked a tweet critical of the LP presidential candidate.

• The commission said it has started a probe of the incident because it did not reflect the institution’s neutrality.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reiterated its commitment to neutrality ahead of the 2023 general election.

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The commission’s assurance came after it received backlash from liking a post critical of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

The electoral body’s official Twitter account liked the tweet of a link where Seun Kuti, the son of the legendary musician, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, described Obi as an “opportunist.”

The act led to several supporters of the LP questioning INEC’s neutrality.

In a series of tweets Wednesday morning, the electoral body admitted that its Twitter account liked the post.

It, however, said it was investigating the incident, adding that it will discipline anyone involved if it establishes an infraction.

“The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been drawn to a post on its Twitter handle, liking a post relating to one of the 18 Presidential candidates,” one of the tweets reads.

“The Commission is an independent electoral body and does not have preference for any candidate or political party. The Commission assures all Nigerians of its neutrality and will conduct a general election that is free and fair to all. The allegiance of the Commission is to the people of Nigeria.

“In the meantime, the Commission is investigating the circumstances that led to the liking of the said post and will take appropriate disciplinary actions if an infraction is established.”

As of the time of filing this report, INEC has unliked the controversial tweet.

Earlier on Tuesday, the commission also courted controversy after its Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos, Olusegun Agbaje, engaged state-controlled Parks Management Committee to distribute election materials on election day.

The committee is led by Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, a known supporter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos.

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The INEC national leadership has faced demands to remove Agbaje and withdraw its engagement of the MC Oluomo-led parks.

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