The Presidency has refuted viral reports claiming Tinubu sacks INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu, labelling the news as false and misleading

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Presidency has firmly debunked widespread reports circulating online claiming that President Bola Tinubu has sacked the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu.

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The reports, which rapidly spread across various social media platforms early on Monday, alleged that Professor Yakubu had been removed from his position and replaced by a certain Professor Bashiru Olamilekan.

The reports described this as part of a “sweeping change” within the leadership of the electoral body.

Responding swiftly to these claims, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Digital and New Media, O’tega Ogra, categorically dismissed the news as false and urged the public to disregard the misinformation.

“Disregard any fake news making the rounds about the replacement of the INEC Chairman,” Mr. Ogra stated in a message posted on X (formerly Twitter).

He emphasised that any such significant decision or official announcement regarding the leadership of INEC would originate directly from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) or through another established and official communication channel of the Federal Government.

“Any such announcement will come from the SGF’s office or any other official source,” he added, providing clarity to the public on how to identify authentic government announcements.

The viral report, which generated considerable discussion and speculation across numerous social media platforms, has now been officially dismissed as misinformation.

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There has been no official corroboration of the claims from the Presidency or any other Federal Government agency, confirming that Professor Mahmood Yakubu remains the Chairman of INEC.