The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has debunked a fake news report circulating on social media, which falsely claimed that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had passed away at a London hospital.
The rumor, which emerged on Monday, 9th December 2024, was swiftly dismissed by the Commission as entirely untrue.
The electoral umpire said this in a statement signed by Rotimi Oyekanmi, his Chief Press Secretary on Saturday, 14th December 2024, INEC appealed to the public to ignore the baseless claim. According to the Commission, Prof. Yakubu is alive, healthy, and actively engaged in his official duties.
He was present at an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters on Wednesday, 11th December 2024, and chaired a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners the following day, Thursday, 12th December 2024. Both events were widely covered by the media.
“This is not the first time such false stories have been spread about Prof. Yakubu. A similar fake news incident occurred in 2021, and it is disheartening that three years later, the same rumors are being circulated,” the statement read.
INEC also warned against the negative impact of spreading false information, emphasizing that such rumors can harm individuals and disrupt public trust.
The Commission called on the public to be vigilant and rely on credible news sources.
The statement concluded by reiterating INEC’s commitment to working with the media to combat the growing threat of fake news and misinformation.
The public is urged to verify news from reliable and official sources before drawing conclusions.