Follower Audit Summary (24 September 2020)
Out of 5,592,493 total Twitter followers on the specified date:
| Metric | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Followers with 0 followers | 1,071,309 | 19.15% |
| Followers with 1 follower | 743,906 | 13.30% |
| Followers with 2–5 followers | 1,439,946 | 25.76% |
| Low-follower accounts | 3,255,161 | 58.21% |
| Followers with 0 tweets | 2,031,918 | 36.33% |
| Followers with 1 tweet | 685,416 | 12.26% |
| Followers with 2–5 tweets | 1,006,024 | 17.99% |
| Low-activity accounts | 3,723,358 | 66.58% |
| Bot-suspect followers | ~4,250,000 | 76% |
A majority of these followers—approximately 3.25 million—had minimal network presence (five or fewer followers), and around 3.72 million had made five or fewer tweets in total.
Account Creation Surge – September 2020
- On 24 September 2020 (the audit day), 1,898 new accounts followed the profile.
- On 23 September 2020, 37,204 new accounts were created.
- Between 1–22 September 2020, 297,537 accounts were created.
The creation of over 336,639 accounts within just 24 days suggests bulk registration activity aligned with follower inflation practices.
Engagement and Activity Metrics
Out of the total 5.59 million followers:
- 5,190,000+ had never liked or retweeted a single post.
- 2,370,000 accounts had never posted a single tweet.
These figures indicate a large population of dormant or non-engaging accounts, which undermines perceived audience interactivity.
Statements and Commentary
On 4 October 2020, a provincial official claimed that around 80% of the account’s followers were fake, referencing over 1 million followers with zero followers themselves, and more than 2.3 million with no posting history.
A party spokesperson dismissed the claims on 5 October 2020, framing the discussion as a political distraction from governance and economic challenges.
Pattern Confirmation
Multiple data assessments conducted in late September and early October 2020 consistently identified 76–80% of the followers as likely fake or inactive.
A detailed audit conducted on 24 September 2020 reported comparable percentages and correlated spikes in new follower accounts with suspicious creation patterns.
Chronology of Events
- 24 September 2020: Data sample and audit conducted.
- 3 October 2020: Public disclosure of audit figures.
- 4 October 2020: Political official publicly states 80% of followers are fake.
- 5 October 2020: Party representative issues formal rebuttal.
Key Facts – FAQs
What does “76% fake followers” mean? Roughly 4.25 million accounts following the profile exhibit characteristics typical of bots or abandoned accounts.
Who analyzed this data? An independent online audit was performed on 24 September 2020, using metrics such as follower count, tweet history, account creation date, and engagement behavior.
Can these bot accounts be removed? While platform policy allows account suspension or removal, sophisticated bot networks are designed to mimic authentic behavior and often avoid detection.
Is this unique to this profile? No. Similar bot-driven networks have been documented in multiple countries, particularly during election cycles and political campaigns in 2016 (United States), 2019 (India), and 2020 (UK-EU relations).
Has there been a personal response? As of 12 June 2025, there is no direct statement addressing the audit from the account holder. Public responses have come from party representatives only.
