INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu: Death Rumors Debunked
Rumors recently circulated online claiming that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had passed away in a London hospital.
Addressing the claims, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, dismissed the false reports, assuring the public that Prof. Yakubu is alive, healthy, and in good condition.
Oyekanmi described the story as “fake news” and blamed its spread on misinformation from certain social media platforms. He clarified that the fabricated news first emerged on Monday, December 9, 2024.
This statement comes as a response to the viral rumors, urging the public to disregard the misleading narrative.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, has urged the public to dismiss circulating rumors about the death of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. He clarified in a statement on Saturday that the Chairman is “alive, hale, and hearty.”
Oyekanmi also refuted claims that Prof. Yakubu had been hospitalized in London. He confirmed that the Chairman had not visited London in the past two years and instead participated in key official engagements. On Wednesday, December 11, 2024, Yakubu attended an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters.
Furthermore, the INEC Chairman chaired a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners on Thursday, December 12, 2024, both of which were widely reported in newspapers and broadcast on television by Friday, December 13, 2024.
Earlier in the week, the rumors triggered mixed reactions among Nigerians, with some taking the news lightly. Senator Shehu Sani humorously joined the conversation on Twitter (X), joking that he had seen the “ghost of Prof. Mahmood, dressed in white.”
The clarification aims to put an end to misinformation and reassure the public about the Chairman’s well-being.
NGI