The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed reports circulating on social media about the supposed death of its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
The rumors, which emerged on Monday, December 9, 2024, falsely claimed that Yakubu had passed away in a hospital in London.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, urged the public to disregard the false reports, assuring that Yakubu is alive, in good health, and well.
“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,” Oyekanmi noted.
The commission further clarified that the INEC chairman has not travelled to London in the past two years.
“In fact, Yakubu 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,” the statement stressed.
INEC also recalled that a similar fake news story had circulated in 2021, with the same false claims being repeated three years later.
The commission condemned the spread of such misinformation, warning that those responsible for initiating and disseminating the rumours should be mindful of the harm they cause to individuals and society at large.
INEC reiterated its commitment to working with credible media professionals to combat the growing threat of fake news.
