Mahmood Yakubu remains INEC chairman, says presidential aide

President Bola Tinubu’s senior special adviser on digital and new media, O’tega Ogra, advises the people to ignore rumours that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) head, Mahmood Yakubu, has been removed.

The office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) or another approved channel would make any formal statement on a change in INEC leadership, according to Ogra, who called such stories false news.

“The Nigerian public should disregard any fake news making the rounds about the replacement of the INEC chairman,” Ogra wrote on X.

voters registration — Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman

“Any such announcement will come from the SGF’s office or any other appropriate official source.”

The clarification comes amid speculation on social media about a shake-up in INEC leadership.

Yakubu reaffirmed the necessity of election reform on February 7, emphasising the necessity of setting up a special electoral offences tribunal with a well-defined jurisdiction and a deadline to guarantee cases are resolved quickly.

He also exhorted the media to actively back initiatives meant to enhance Nigeria’s democratic government and election process.