INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu Alive, Not Dead, Says Aide

Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is alive and in good health, according to his Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Oyekanmi debunked rumors circulating on social media about the purported death of the INEC Chairman in a London hospital. He described the news as false and urged the public to dismiss it.

Oyekanmi’s Statement

“Our attention has been drawn to a fake news narrative circulated by a section of the social media, claiming the purported death of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, at a London hospital. The story first appeared on Monday, 9th December 2024.

“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,” Oyekanmi said.

He further highlighted Yakubu’s recent engagements to refute the claim.

• On Wednesday, December 11, 2024, Prof. Yakubu attended an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters.
• On Thursday, December 12, 2024, he chaired a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners.

Both events were widely covered in the media, with reports appearing on television and in newspapers on Friday, December 13, 2024.

Addressing Fake News

Oyekanmi reminded the public that similar false rumors about Prof. Yakubu’s death had circulated in 2021, describing the current iteration as another baseless attempt to mislead the public.

“Those indulging in spreading fake news should consider the harm it causes, not only to the individual but to society at large,” he said.

The statement emphasized INEC’s commitment to collaborating with credible media professionals to tackle the spread of misinformation and its potential dangers.

This development underscores the persistent challenges posed by fake news and the need for vigilance in verifying information.