The Presidency has swiftly addressed and debunked circulating rumors suggesting that President Bola Tinubu has dismissed Professor Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). These reports, which began circulating early Monday, falsely claimed that Professor Yakubu had been replaced by Professor Bashiru Olamilekan amid a supposed overhaul in the leadership of the electoral body.
In response to the misinformation, O’tega Ogra, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Digital and New Media, took to social media to clarify the situation. He unequivocally labeled the claims as untrue and urged the public to disregard the false reports. Ogra also emphasized that any formal announcement regarding changes to INEC’s leadership would come from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) or another authorized government outlet.
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“Do not give credence to any fake news regarding the replacement of the INEC Chairman,” Ogra asserted in his statement on X (formerly Twitter). He reiterated that official declarations concerning such matters would only be made through recognized channels such as the SGF’s office.
The false reports, which gained rapid traction on social media, have now been officially dismissed, with no backing from the Presidency or any government institution. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for careful scrutiny of information circulating online.
