National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Ekpenyong Emmanuel
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has quashed rumors circulating on social media about his alleged death. In a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, Yakubu described the claims as baseless and urged the public to disregard them.
According to the statement, “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.”
Yakubu emphasized that he has not visited London in the past two years, contrary to the false reports. To prove his well-being, the statement highlighted his recent public appearances, including an interactive meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters and a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners, both of which were widely covered by the media.
The Commission also expressed concern over the recurrence of such false reports, citing a similar incident in 2021. Yakubu warned that spreading misinformation can have damaging effects on individuals and society, stating, “Those who indulge in this practice, as well as those who spread it, should be mindful of its effect not only on the individual but also the wider society.”
Yakubu reassured the public of INEC’s commitment to combating fake news and collaborating with reputable media outlets to protect the integrity of information shared with the public.
