The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has refuted rumors of his alleged death, describing them as baseless and the handiwork of mischief-makers.
Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, Yakubu clarified that the viral reports claiming he passed away in a London hospital were entirely false.
The statement reads in part:
“Our attention has been drawn to a fake news narrative circulated on social media, claiming the purported death of INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, at a London hospital. This false report first emerged on Monday, December 9, 2024.
“We appeal to the public to disregard this rumor. Prof. Yakubu is alive, hale, and hearty. In fact, he has not traveled to London in the past two years.
“On Wednesday, December 11, 2024, he attended an interactive meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters. On Thursday, December 12, 2024, he chaired the Commission’s meeting with resident electoral commissioners. Both events were widely televised and reported on the front pages of newspapers on Friday, December 13, 2024.”
The statement further noted that a similar false rumor was circulated in 2021, and the same narrative has resurfaced three years later.
“Those who indulge in spreading such fabrications should be mindful of the harm they cause, not only to the individual but also to society at large.
“The Commission remains committed to working with genuine media professionals to combat fake news and its dangers to public trust and social stability,” Oyekanmi added.
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