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INEC Denies Death Rumors Surrounding Chairman Mahmood Yakubu
Abuja, Nigeria- The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed rumours claiming its Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, has passed away.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, confirmed that Yakubu is alive and well.
Oyekanmi noted the Commission’s commitment to combating fake news, describing the false reports as harmful to society.
“The INEC Chairman is very much alive,” the statement read, urging the public to disregard the misleading claims.
The clarification followed viral reports alleging that Yakubu had died in London, a claim that INEC categorically refuted.
The Commission reaffirmed its dedication to collaborating with credible media outlets to address the growing threat of misinformation.
INEC called on the public and stakeholders to verify news from trusted sources to curb the spread of fake information.
The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to a fake news narrative circulated by a section of the social media claiming the purported death of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu at a London hospital. The story first appeared on Monday, 9th December 2024.
“We hereby appeal to the public to disregard the rumour. Prof. Yakubu is alive, hale and hearty. In fact, he has not travelled to London in the last two years.
“He was present at an interactive meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters on Wednesday, 11th December 2024.
“He also chaired the Commission’s meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners on Thursday, 12th December 2024. Both events were widely covered on television and reported on the front pages of most newspapers yesterday, Friday 13th December 2024, Oyekanmi said.
The public may recall that mischief-makers on the social media carried a similar fake story in 2021. Three years later, they are spreading the same rumour again.
“Those who indulge in this practice, as well as those who spread it, should be mindful of its effect not only on the individual but also the wider society,” he said.
