The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, is not dead.
The commission’s spokesperson, Rotimi Oyekanmi, stated this on Saturday to refute reports circulating on social media that it’s chairman was dead.
The reports was carried on Monday, December 9, 2024 that Yakubu died in a London hospital.
Oyekanmi told the public to disregard the rumours, saying Yakubu is alive, well, and in good health.
“Our attention has been drawn to a fake news narrative circulated by a section of the social media claiming the purported death of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu at a London hospital. The story first appeared on Monday, 9th December 2024.
“We hereby appeal to the public to disregard the rumour. Prof. Yakubu is alive, hale and hearty,” Oyekanmi noted.
The commission further clarified that the INEC chairman has not travelled to London in the past two years.
“In fact, Yakubu has not travelled 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, 11th December 2024.
“He also chaired the commission’s meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners on Thursday, 12th December 2024. Both events were widely covered on television and reported on the front pages of most newspapers yesterday, Friday 13th December 2024,” the statement stressed.