INEC Chairman Prof. Yakubu Not Sacked, Says Commission

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed as false recent social media reports claiming that its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had been dismissed by President Bola Tinubu.

A viral WhatsApp message, which circulated widely, falsely stated that Yakubu was replaced by a Professor Olamilekan. The message, which lacked any credible attribution, read: “INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has been replaced with Prof. Bashiru Olamilekan by President Tinubu.”

Responding to the report, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, refuted the claims, stating simply: “Please, disregard. It is not true.”

Meanwhile, Prof. Yakubu, who is nearing the end of his second term as INEC Chairman, is expected to step down by the end of this year.

According to the process for appointing an INEC Chairman, the President nominates a candidate, whose credentials are then reviewed by the Department of State Services (DSS) for screening. The nominee’s name is subsequently reviewed by the National Council of State before being submitted to the Senate for final screening and confirmation.

There has been no official statement indicating any change in leadership at INEC as of yet.