INEC Chairman Yakubu Sparks Tension With Emergency Meeting Hours After Sack Rumours

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has debunked claims of his removal by continuing to perform his duties, including presiding over the commission’s weekly management meeting on Monday. This comes just hours after a fake report suggesting his sack went viral.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The false claim, which spread via WhatsApp on Monday afternoon, alleged that President Bola Tinubu had replaced Yakubu with Prof. Olamilekan Bashiru. The unverified message read: “INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has been replaced with Prof. Bashiru Olamilekan by President Tinubu.”

Reacting to the rumour, O’tega Ogra, Senior Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Digital and New Media, dismissed the claim on his handle, labeling it as “fake news.”

Prof. Yakubu, who is approaching the end of his second term as INEC Chairman, is expected to vacate the office later this year.

To affirm his active status, INEC, via its official account on Tuesday, shared that Prof. Yakubu presided over the commission’s weekly meeting at its Abuja headquarters.

The post read: “The Independent National Electoral Commission’s weekly meeting began earlier today at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, with the Hon. Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu superintending.”

The update also listed attending National Commissioners, including Mr. Sam Olumekun mni, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, Mr. Kenneth Ukeagu, Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, and Dr. Baba Bila, among others—highlighting that important decisions were on the agenda.