INEC Reacts to Reports of Chairman Mahmood Yakubu’s Alleged Death

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has passed away.

In a statement issued by Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, the Commission labeled the report as fake news and urged the public to disregard it.

The rumors, which began spreading on Monday, December 9, 2024, alleged that Prof. Yakubu died in a London hospital. However, INEC has firmly refuted these claims, confirming that the chairman is “alive, hale, and hearty.”

“He has not traveled to London in the last two years,” the statement clarified.

To further debunk the rumors, INEC highlighted Yakubu’s active participation in recent events. “He was present at an interactive meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. He also chaired a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners on Thursday, December 12, 2024,” Oyekanmi noted, adding that both events received extensive media coverage.

INEC also reminded the public of a similar fake news incident in 2021, when similar rumors about Yakubu’s death circulated online. “Three years later, mischief-makers are spreading the same baseless story,” the statement read.

The Commission condemned the actions of those responsible for spreading the false report, highlighting the harm such misinformation could cause to both individuals and society.

INEC reiterated its commitment to working with credible media outlets to combat the spread of fake news, emphasizing the dangers it poses to public trust and social stability.