The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has addressed recent reports claiming that its chairman, Professor Yakubu Mahmood, passed away in London.
INEC refuted the reports, confirming that Professor Mahmood is in good health. According to his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, the INEC chairman has not traveled to London in the past two years.
The statement reads: “We have been alerted to a false news story circulating on social media, claiming that INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, died in a hospital in London. This report first surfaced on Monday, December 9, 2024.
“We urge the public to ignore this rumor. Professor Yakubu is alive and well. In fact, he has not traveled to London in the last two years. He was present at an interactive meeting 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 the media and reported on the front pages of most newspapers on Friday, December 13, 2024.
“This is not the first time such false claims have circulated. In 2021, a similar rumor was spread, and now, three years later, it has resurfaced.
“We advise those responsible for spreading such misinformation, and those who share it, to consider the harm it causes not just to individuals, but to society as a whole.”
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with the media to combat fake news and misinformation.
