Prof Mahmood is Alive, Hale and Hearty- INEC
Oru Leonard
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has debunked a fake news story circulating on social media claiming that its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had passed away at a London hospital. The rumor, which first surfaced on Monday, December 9, 2024, alleged that Yakubu had traveled to London for treatment but unfortunately succumbed to his illness.
This is contained in a press release signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, noting that INEC has categorically denied the report, stating that Yakubu is “alive, hale, and hearty.”
In fact, the Chairman has not traveled to London in the last two years. To further dispel the rumor, INEC pointed out that Yakubu had recently attended two high-profile events: an interactive meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, and a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners on Thursday, December 12, 2024. Both events received widespread media coverage, with Yakubu’s presence prominently featured on television and in newspapers.
This is not the first time that Yakubu has been the target of a death hoax. A similar fake story circulated on social media in 2021, and INEC is urging the public to be cautious of such misinformation. The Commission emphasized the need to combat fake news, which can have serious consequences for individuals and society as a whole.
