Fact-Check: False! INEC Chairman Did Not Welcome President Tinubu at the Airport

Claim: INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan was among the dignitaries who welcomed President Tinubu back to the country after his working vacation.

Verdict: False

Background:

A claim circulating on social media, particularly X (formerly Twitter), alleges that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan was among the entourage at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos that welcomed President Bola Tinubu back to Nigeria after his weeks-long working vacation in Europe.

On September 30, 2026, X user @arinzecajet001 made the claim while reacting to a viral video and image of President Tinubu’s arrival in Nigeria the previous day. The footage showed prominent politicians and public officials welcoming him. In the image, a man in a light-brown agbada and peach-coloured cap bowed slightly while greeting the President, who returned the greeting.

The user questioned the INEC chairman’s independence, claiming he appeared in the video and image: “This is the supposedly independent chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Amupitan. How can he be expected to act independently tomorrow?”

Since it was published, the post has attracted more than 84,000 views, 244 reposts, 234 likes, and 106 comments. Some commenters suggested that the INEC chairman’s alleged presence among politicians welcoming the President raised doubts about his independence and the fairness of the 2027 general elections.

In a similar post, which attracted 129,000 views, more than 2,000 reposts, over 5,000 likes, and 355 comments, @trigottista asked, “No be INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan be this? INEC Chairman went to welcome Tinubu???”

The claim prompted further comments questioning the credibility of the forthcoming elections. For example, @vitalisAnthony9 wrote, “They already have their plans, which is why they do not care about the masses. The opposition is doing nothing to counter them and is focused only on controlling the media.

The international community is in their pocket. Only God can remove these people from power. The masses have grown too accustomed to suffering.”

Another comment under the post by @Phil_el_Maximus stated that “Is this how y’all plan to win 2027, either the INEC chairman being a thiefnubu sychophant? lol we will see if Nigerians are ready to defend their vote or not”

@johndtailor further commented that “Person dey shout for social media since last week say dem no release money for the elections wey him dey cook. That may allegedly explain why he went to the airport to ask for approval. Cash Out Nigeria Unlimited! After all, they are allegedly not ready to do proper elections!!!”

Because the claim spread widely on social media and could undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections, NDR investigated its accuracy.

Verification

NDR searched credible media reports for evidence that INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan was among those who welcomed President Tinubu at the airport after his vacation. The search found no reports supporting the claim.

NDR also reviewed the original video, which bears the watermark of the government-owned Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and was reposted several times. The footage shows that the man misidentified as the electoral commission chairman is Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, the President’s Special Adviser on Political Affairs.

After leaving the aircraft, President Tinubu greeted the dignitaries waiting in line. When he saw his special adviser, he addressed him by name, asking, “Ibrahim, are you here too?” before shaking Mr Masari’s hand.

Conclusion

The claim that the INEC chairman was at the Lagos airport to welcome Tinubu back to Nigeria is false, as the man in the video is Ibrahim Masari, his special adviser.

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