The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Presidency have debunked widely circulated reports on social media claiming that President Bola Tinubu has sacked the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
Over the weekend, a viral WhatsApp message spread like wildfire, alleging that Prof. Yakubu had been replaced with one Prof. Bashiru Olamilekan. The unverified message, which lacked attribution, stated: “INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmud Yakubu has been replaced with Prof. Bashiru Olamilekan by President Tinubu.”
Reacting to the claims, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, told Vanguard via a brief message: “Please, disregard. It is not true.”
The Presidency also weighed in on the issue. O’tega Ogra, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Digital and New Media, described the claim as “fake news,” urging Nigerians to rely only on verified sources of information.
“The Nigerian public should disregard any fake news making the rounds about the replacement of the INEC Chairman,” Ogra said. “Any such announcement will come from the SGF’s office or any other appropriate official source.”
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Prof. Yakubu, currently serving out his second term as Chairman of the electoral body, is expected to conclude his tenure later in the year.
According to constitutional provisions, the appointment of a new INEC Chairman involves a thorough process: nomination by the President, vetting by the Department of State Services (DSS), advisory input from the National Council of State, and confirmation by the Senate.
The false report adds to a growing list of disinformation incidents targeting key institutions in recent times, prompting renewed calls for vigilance in consuming news, especially from unverified online platforms.