INEC debunks false rumors of Chairman Mahmood Yakubu’s death
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu
The Independent National Electoral Commission has refuted false claims circulating on social media about the death of its Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
The rumors, which emerged on December 9, 2024, suggested he died in a London hospital.
INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, in a statement on Saturday, confirmed Yakubu is alive and healthy, having participated in recent official meetings.
It partly reads, “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.”
INEC condemned the spread of misinformation and urged the public to disregard such rumors, recalling similar false claims from 2021.
“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.
“The Commission will continue to work with genuine media professionals to combat the scourge of fake news and the danger it poses to society,” It added.
