The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed viral claims that President Bola Tinubu has removed its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, from office.
A widely circulated WhatsApp message—without any official attribution—asserted that Yakubu had been replaced by “Prof. Bashiru Olamilekan.”
In response to inquiries from Vanguard, INEC Chairman’s Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, stated simply, “Please, disregard. It is not true.”
The Presidency also weighed in: Senior Special Adviser on Digital and New Media, O’tega Ogra, tweeted that any announcement about INEC’s leadership would come from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation or another official source.
Prof. Yakubu is approaching the end of his second five‑year term, which concludes late this year. Under the Constitution, any new INEC Chairman must be nominated by the President, screened by the Department of State Services, reviewed by the National Council of State, and confirmed by the Senate.
Observers note that rumours of Yakubu’s removal may reflect broader public interest in INEC’s leadership continuity as preparations for future elections intensify. For now, both INEC and the Presidency insist that Prof. Yakubu remains firmly in place until due process dictates otherwise.
