INEC Debunks Chairman’s Death Rumour

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The Independent National Electoral Commission has debunked the news circulating on social media about the alleged death of the chairman of the agency, Prof.Mahmood Yakubu.

The rumour which surfaced on social media on Monday, claimed that Yakubu died in a hospital in London.

However,on Saturday, The Chief Press Secretary of INEC, Rotimi Oyekanmi, appealed to the public to shun all rumours associated with the death of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, confirming that he’s alive, hale and hearty

He said: “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 further noted that the INEC chairman has not travelled to London in the past two years, noting several activities the chairman has featured during the said time.

“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 buttressed.

The commission however condemned the spread of such misinformation, urging individuals to desist from disseminating rumours that could harm individuals and society at large.