Mahmood Yakubu Is Not Dead Says INEC, Cautions Nigerians Against Spreading Fake News On Social Media
Israel Adeleke
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has debunked a report being circulated on social media purporting that the Chairman of the electoral umpire, Mahmood Yakubu has died in a London hospital.
The reports in question which found surfaced and has started filtering to the social media space over the weekend, claims that Yakubu had died in a London hospital but in swift reaction to the reports, the Commission has officially described the report as fake news.
A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, sighted by OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News has it that the Commission's "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, commission, appealing to the public to disregard the rumour.
“Prof. Yakubu is alive, hale and hearty. In fact, he has not travelled to London in the last two years,” the statement said.
“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,” it further stated.
The statement recalled that mischief-makers on the social media carried a similar fake story in 2021, noting that three years later, they are spreading the same rumour again.
While reinstating the commitment of the Commission to continue to work with genuine media professionals to combat the scourge of fake news and the danger it poses to society, it urged those who indulge in such practices, as well as those who spread it, to be mindful of its effect not only on the individual but also the wider society".
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