The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has refuted unfounded reports circulating on social media that falsely claim the electoral chief has passed away.
In a statement released on Saturday in Abuja, Oyekanmi addressed the misleading narrative, which alleges that Prof. Yakubu died in a London hospital. This misinformation first surfaced on Monday, December 9, 2024.
“We urge the public to disregard these rumors. Prof. Yakubu is alive and in good health. In fact, he has not traveled to London in the past two years. He attended 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. Both events received extensive coverage on television and were featured prominently in newspapers on December 13, 2024,” he stated.
Oyekanmi also reminded the public that similar falsehoods were propagated by social media in 2021, indicating a troubling recurrence of these rumors.
“Those who engage in spreading such misinformation, as well as those who share it, should consider the impact of their actions not just on individuals but on society as a whole.”
“The Commission remains committed to collaborating with reputable media professionals to tackle the issue of fake news and its potential dangers to society,” Oyekanmi concluded.
