INEC Refutes Chairman Yakubu’s Death, Warns Against Misinformation

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed social media reports alleging the death of its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

The rumours, which began circulating on Monday, December 9, 2024, claimed that Prof. Yakubu passed away at a London hospital. In response, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, released a statement on Saturday, categorically denying the reports and confirming that Yakubu is alive and in good health.

“Our attention has been drawn to a fake news narrative circulated by a section of social media, claiming the purported death of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, in a London hospital. We hereby appeal to the public to disregard the rumour. Prof. Yakubu is alive, hale, and hearty,” Oyekanmi stated.

INEC further clarified that Prof. Yakubu has not visited London in the last two years. To dispel any doubts, the commission pointed to his active engagements in recent days.

“Prof. Yakubu was present at an interactive session 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. Both events were widely covered by television stations and reported in major newspapers on Friday, December 13, 2024,” the statement emphasized.

The commission expressed dismay over the recurrence of such misinformation, recalling a similar false report in 2021 about Yakubu’s alleged death. It warned against the dangers of fake news, highlighting the harm such falsehoods can cause to individuals and society.

INEC reiterated its commitment to collaborating with credible media organizations to curb the spread of misinformation.

“Those responsible for initiating and spreading such baseless rumours must consider the damage their actions inflict on society,” the statement concluded.

This development underscores the growing threat of fake news, with INEC urging the public to rely on verified information from credible sources.