Abuja, December 14, 2024 – There’s no truth to the rumors circulating online about the death of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to Professor Yakubu, has firmly denied these claims. He addressed the fake news on Saturday, revealing that the rumors began circulating on December 9, suggesting that the INEC Chairman had passed away in a London hospital. Oyekanmi appealed to Nigerians to ignore the rumors, assuring the public that Professor Yakubu is healthy and doing well.
He also pointed out that the INEC Chairman hasn’t been to London in over two years. In fact, just a few days ago, on December 11, Professor Yakubu participated in an important meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters. He also led another meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners on December 12, both of which were covered by news outlets.
This isn’t the first time such rumors have spread. Back in 2021, similar fake stories circulated about the INEC Chairman. Oyekanmi condemned the spread of such harmful rumors and reminded the public of the damage they can cause, not just to the individual involved, but to society as a whole. He also reaffirmed that INEC will continue working with reliable media professionals to fight the spread of fake news.
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