By Joy Odor
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, is hale and hearty, not dead, disregard the 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.
In a statement on Saturday by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Rotimi Oyekanmi Informed members of the public that the story first appeared on Monday, 9th December 2024.
According to him, recall that the mischief-makers on the social media carried a similar fake story in 2021 and three years later, they are spreading the same rumour again.
Oyekanmi appealed to the public to disregard the rumour, saying Prof. Yakubu has not travelled to London in the last two years.
The CPS warned those indulging in the fake news, as well as those who spread it to be mindful of its effect, not only on the individual but also the wider society.
Oyekanmi affirmed that the Commission would continue to work with genuine media professionals to combat the scourge of fake news and the danger it poses to society.
“The INEC chairman is alive, hale and hearty and has not travelled to London in the last two years.
“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.
“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” he said.
