The Presidency has dismissed circulating reports that President Bola Tinubu has sacked the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Mahmood Yakubu.
The unverified reports, which quickly gained traction on social media, claimed that Yakubu had been removed from office and replaced by Professor Bashiru Olamilekan in what was referred to as a “sweeping change” within the electoral body’s leadership.
In response to the viral claims, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Digital and New Media O’tega Ogra, issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter), labeling the reports as false. He urged the public to disregard the misinformation, emphasizing that any official announcement regarding the replacement of the INEC Chairman would come from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation or through another legitimate communication channel.
“Disregard any fake news circulating about the replacement of the INEC Chairman,” Ogra wrote. “Any such announcement will come from the SGF’s office or another official source.”
The viral reports have now been fully dismissed as unfounded, with no official confirmation from the Presidency or any federal agency to support the claims of Yakubu’s removal.
