INEC Dismisses Death Rumors, Confirms Prof. Yakubu is Alive

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has strongly refuted the false rumors circulating on social media claiming that its chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has passed away.

In a statement released by Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, the commission clarified that Prof. Yakubu is in good health and has not traveled to London in the past two years.

The rumors, which first appeared on December 9, 2024, falsely stated that the INEC chairman had died in a London hospital after a brief illness.

However, the INEC press release emphasized that Prof. Yakubu was present at an interactive meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters on December 11, 2024, and chaired a commission meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners on December 12, 2024.

The statement urged the public to ignore the rumors, which had also surfaced in 2021, and warned of the harmful effects of spreading fake news.