‘It’s fake news,’ Presidency denies sacking INEC boss, Yakubu
The Presidency has debunked widespread reports claiming that President Bola Tinubu has sacked the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
The reports, which went viral early Monday, alleged that Yakubu had been removed from office and replaced with a certain Professor Bashiru Olamilekan in what was described as a “sweeping change” in the electoral body’s leadership.
Reacting to the claims, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Digital and New Media, O’tega Ogra, described the news as false and urged the public to disregard it.
“Disregard any fake news making the rounds about the replacement of the INEC Chairman,” Ogra wrote in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).
He emphasised that any such decision or announcement would emanate from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation or another official communication channel.
“Any such announcement will come from the SGF’s office or any other official source,” he added.
The viral report, which caused a stir across various social media platforms, has since been dismissed as misinformation, with no official corroboration from the Presidency or any Federal agency.