The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, is currently leading the commission’s weekly management meeting, just a day after rumours about his removal began circulating on social media.
On Monday, a viral WhatsApp message falsely claimed that Yakubu had been dismissed and replaced by Bashiru Olamilekan, allegedly by President Bola Tinubu. The message, which was not sourced or verified, quickly caused confusion across various platforms.
In response, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, dismissed the rumour as untrue, urging the public to disregard the claim. “Please, disregard. It is not true,” Oyekanmi stated.
Yakubu, who is nearing the end of his second term as INEC Chairman, is expected to complete his tenure by the end of the year.
On Tuesday, INEC confirmed via its official X account that the weekly management meeting had commenced, with Yakubu presiding over the session at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
National Commissioners, including Sam Olumekun, May Agbamuche-Mbu, Kenneth Ukeagu, Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, and Baba Bila, were present at the meeting, which is expected to focus on important electoral matters.
