The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied rumours making the rounds especially on social media that its chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has been sacked by President Bola Tinubu.
A WhatsApp broadcast message had circulated earlier in the day claiming President Tinubu had fired and replaced Yakubu with one Prof. Bashiru Olamilekan. The message, which circulated across various social media platforms on Monday, read: “INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmud Yakubu has been replaced with Prof. Bashiru Olamilekan by President Tinubu.”
However, in a swift response to the message, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, urged the public to disregard the report, describing it as false and misleading.
“Please, disregard. It is not true,” Oyekanmi said in a brief statement made available to journalists.
Prof. Yakubu, who was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2015 is currently serving his second and final term as Chairman of the commission. His is expected to complete his tenure later this year.
