The Presidency has dismissed as false widespread reports claiming that President Bola Tinubu has sacked Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The rumours, which gained traction on Monday, alleged that Yakubu had been removed from office and replaced by Professor Bashiru Olamilekan, in a supposed “sweeping change” in the leadership of the electoral body. These reports quickly spread across various social media platforms, causing confusion and speculation.
However, reacting swiftly to the misinformation, O’tega Ogra, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Digital and New Media, labelled the reports as fake news. He strongly urged the public to disregard the rumours, clarifying that any such announcement would officially come from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation or another credible government source.
In his statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Ogra reassured Nigerians that the supposed removal of Yakubu was baseless and urged everyone to rely on official channels for any updates.
“The news about the replacement of the INEC Chairman is false. Disregard any fake news making the rounds,” Ogra said.
As of now, no official statement from the Presidency or any government agency has supported the viral claims. The allegations have since been debunked, leaving the public with a reminder of the importance of verifying news from trustworthy sources.
The report, which initially stirred concern among Nigerians, has been completely dismissed as misinformation.
