The Presidency has cautioned the general public to disregard circulating studies on social media suggesting that the Chairman of the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has been faraway from workplace.
O’tega Ogra, the Senior Particular Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Digital Media, made the clarification on Monday through a put up on X (previously Twitter).
“The Nigerian public ought to disregard any pretend information making the rounds concerning the alternative of the INEC Chairman. Any such announcement will come from the SGF’s workplace or some other applicable official supply,” Ogra wrote.
Mahmood was appointed to workplace by President Muhammadu Buhari on 21 October 2015, succeeding Amina Zakari, who served as performing chairman.
He has supervised the conduct of the 2019 and 2023 normal elections in Nigeria.
The INEC Chairman performs a key position in Nigeria’s democratic course of, overseeing nationwide elections.
Analysts say rumours or unverified studies about his elimination may set off political instability, undermine confidence within the electoral system, and gasoline misinformation.
With political events getting ready for an off-cycle gubernatorial election in Anambra state later this 12 months, information of the alleged alternative of the INEC chairman stimulates consideration.
The presidency’s immediate clarification seeks to douse any rigidity or hypothesis that will come up from the web claims. It additionally reaffirms the significance of counting on official authorities communication channels for verified info.
Ogra’s assertion aligns with the federal government’s protocol on the dissemination of official choices, which generally come via formal channels such because the Workplace of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) or presidential spokespersons.
As of the time of this report, there was no official announcement or communication from any related authorities workplace relating to a change within the management of INEC.
