INEC Debunks Rumors: Chairman Mahmood Yakubu Is Alive

INEC refutes false reports about Chairman Mahmood Yakubu’s death, confirming he is alive and continuing his duties at the electoral body.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the public to dismiss any news regarding the death of its Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu.

Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, stated on Saturday that Yakubu is alive.

The need for clarification arose after reports surfaced claiming that the INEC Chair had passed away in London.

We have become aware of a false news story circulating on some social media platforms, alleging that INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has died in a London hospital. This narrative first emerged on Monday, December 9th, 2024.

We urge the public to ignore this rumor. Professor Yakubu is alive, well, and in good health. In fact, he hasn’t traveled to London for the past two years.

He attended an interactive meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters on Wednesday, December 11th, 2024.

He additionally presided over the Commission’s meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners on Thursday, December 12th, 2024. Both occasions received extensive television coverage and were featured on the front pages of most newspapers yesterday, Friday, December 13th, 2024.

The public may remember that in 2021, troublemakers on social media spread a similar false story. Now, three years later, they are circulating the same rumor once more.

“The statement emphasized that both those who engage in this practice and those who promote it should consider its impact not just on individuals but also on society as a whole.”

The statement further mentioned that the Commission would persist in collaborating with authentic media professionals to fight against the threat of fake news and its potential harm to society.