Prof Attahiru Jega, the immediate past Chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) is telling whoever cares to listen that he operates no twitter accounts and that any and every twitter accounts being run in his name is fake and false.
Intervention understands that there are no less than six different twitter accounts being operated by fake Jegas. Prof Jega’s friends are also alarmed, saying statements that are outlandish by every definition are being attributed to the Political Science professor at Bayero University, Kano.
It is not peculiar to Jega as most celebrities suffer that impersonation. There is a signifier by which a fake account can be detected but in a virtual world, detection could be a luxury for the millions feeding on social media texts.
Prof Attahiru Jega
Prof Jega’s statement reads in full as follows:
Dear all
Disclaimer of Twitter Account @Prof_AJega
It has come to my notice that there is a twitter account in my name, with handle @Prof_AJega, https://twitter.com/prof_ajega?lang=en. The views and opinions expressed in this account are not mine.
This is a parody account being operated by an unknown person. Sadly, according to twitter, parody accounts cannot be shut down because they are legal. Parody accounts pose as celebrities/renowned persons and are created for satire and entertainment purposes usually spreading false information.
Kindly be informed that I do not operate any twitter account and I have not authorised anybody to operate any such account on my behalf.
Thank you.
Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, OFR
