BY: Mustapha Lawal
Claim:
INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu has passed away.
Verdict:
False. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is alive.
Full Text:
Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, a former chair of Nigeria’s electoral commission, passed away in October 2024. Nwosu led the National Electoral Commission (NEC), the predecessor of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), from 1989 to 1993. He is remembered for overseeing the historic June 12, 1993, election, which was later annulled.
However, a few months after Nwosu’s death, misinformation began circulating on social media, claiming that the current INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had also passed away.
Rumours about the death of Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), began circulating on social media platforms, including Nairaland, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook. The claim alleged that Yakubu had passed away, sparking debates and expressions of scepticism among users.
One X (formerly Twitter) user posted: “Yakubu May Be Dead.” One viral Facebook post read: “Breaking News: INEC Chairman, Professor Yakubu, Passes Away in London After Brief Illness.” The post alleged that Yakubu went to bed in good health but later suffered a severe medical emergency. It further claimed that despite being transferred to London for treatment, he was pronounced dead.
The same claim appeared on Facebook here and here. The story quickly gained traction, with no credible sources verifying its accuracy at the time of its spread.
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, currently serving his second term as INEC Chairman, was first appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 and reappointed in 2020. His tenure has been marked by significant electoral reforms and challenges.
Verification
FactCheckAfrica investigated the claim and found no evidence to support the rumours of Mahmood Yakubu’s death. Yakubu’s purported death was not confirmed by any credible sources or Nigerian government agencies, which would typically respond promptly to such significant developments
The absence of any credible news reports suggests that the report of the death is false. Also, the spokesperson for INEC, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, confirmed that Yakubu was well.
“The Inec chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, is alive, hale and hearty,” Oyekanmi said.
We also found a video of a TV interview in which Yakubu commented on Ghana’s elections on 7 December 2024.
Additionally, INEC updates its official Facebook page on its activities, and recent ones including that of December 13, 2024—after the rumours began circulating included no mention of Yakubu’s alleged death, further affirming that the claims are unfounded.
Conclusion
The claim that INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu has died is false. This is a baseless rumour spread across social media platforms without verification or supporting evidence. Death hoaxes targeting public figures are a form of misinformation. They exploit public attention and can confuse. We urge the public to rely on credible sources for updates and to avoid sharing unverified information that could mislead others.
