The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has dismissed widespread rumours of his death, describing them as baseless and false.
The rumours, which circulated on social media and various blogs, alleged that Yakubu passed away in a London hospital. However, Senator Shehu Sani, a former lawmaker, debunked the claims on Saturday, confirming via social media that the INEC boss was alive and well.
Yakubu’s Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, also issued a statement urging the public to disregard the false reports. Oyekanmi clarified that Yakubu has not traveled to London in over two years, contrary to the claims.
“Our attention has been drawn to a fake news narrative circulating on social media, falsely claiming that INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, passed away in a London hospital,” Oyekanmi said. “The story, which first appeared on December 9, 2024, is entirely untrue.”
He added: “Prof. Yakubu is alive, hale and hearty. He participated in an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, and chaired a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners on Thursday, December 12, 2024. Both events were extensively covered by television networks and reported in the media on Friday, December 13, 2024.”
Oyekanmi also recalled a similar incident in 2021 when false death reports about Yakubu surfaced, attributing these recurrent rumours to mischief-makers. He emphasized the harm caused by fake news, not just to individuals but to society as a whole.
“The Commission will continue to collaborate with credible media professionals to combat the spread of fake news and protect the public from its damaging effects,” Oyekanmi concluded.
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