The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has dismissed rumors surrounding his supposed removal, reaffirming his position by presiding over the commission’s weekly management meeting on Monday.
This came just hours after a fake news story falsely claimed that he had been replaced.
The baseless rumor, which spread rapidly through WhatsApp on Monday afternoon, falsely stated that Prof. Yakubu had been replaced by Prof. Olamilekan Bashiru. The message, which was not supported by credible sources, claimed: “INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has been replaced with Prof. Bashiru Olamilekan by President Tinubu.”
In response to the circulating fake news, O’tega Ogra, the Senior Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Digital Media and New Media, took to his X (formerly Twitter) account, labeling the report as “fake news.”
Yakubu, who is nearing the end of his second term as INEC Chairman, is expected to step down towards the end of the year. However, the rumors about his immediate removal have been debunked, with the INEC Chairman continuing his duties as usual.
On Tuesday, INEC took to its official social media platform, ‘X,’ to confirm that Prof. Yakubu was indeed leading the weekly meeting at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. The post clarified: “The Independent National Electoral Commission’s weekly meeting began earlier today at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, with the Hon. Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, presiding.”
The tweet further highlighted the attendance of several National Commissioners, including Mr. Sam Olumekun, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, Mr. Kenneth Ukeagu, Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, and Dr. Baba Bila, among others. The meeting was described as crucial, with important decisions expected to be made.
The swift clarification from both INEC and the Presidential Digital Media Adviser sought to reassure the public and counter the spread of misinformation about the leadership of the electoral body.
