On April 7, 2025, a wave of rumors swept through Nigeria’s digital landscape, alleging that President Bola Tinubu had dismissed Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), replacing him with a supposed Professor Bashiru Olamilekan.
Within hours, both the presidency and INEC issued emphatic denials, exposing the claims as baseless and spotlighting the persistent challenge of misinformation in Nigeria’s electoral discourse.
As of April 08, 2025, Yakubu remains firmly in office, steering INEC toward critical milestones like the 2027 general elections, even as his tenure nears its scheduled end later this year.
The Rumor’s Roots and Rapid Rebuttal
The falsehood originated from a viral WhatsApp message, a platform notorious for amplifying unverified narratives in Nigeria.
By Monday evening, April 7, the claim had gained traction, prompting swift responses from authoritative voices.
O’tega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital and New Media, took to X to debunk the story, stating, “The news is false—disregard it.”
He underscored that official decisions from President Tinubu’s administration are announced through formal channels, not rumor mills.
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication, reinforced this, urging the public to dismiss the report entirely.
INEC’s response was equally decisive. Rotimi Oyekanmi, Yakubu’s Chief Press Secretary, told Vanguard, “It’s not true—disregard the claim. ” The commission’s clarity quashed any lingering doubt, aligning with its track record of countering misinformation, as seen in December 2024 when it refuted false reports of Yakubu’s death in a London hospital.
The speed and unity inec-chairman-mahmood-not-sacked-spokesman/of these denials underscore a coordinated effort to protect public trust in Nigeria’s electoral leadership at a pivotal moment.
Yakubu’s Tenure: A Timeline Nearing Its Close
Professor Yakubu’s leadership of INEC is rooted in a decade-long tenure. First appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari on October 21, 2015, he was sworn in on November 9, 2015, for his initial five-year term.
Reappointed on October 27, 2020, and sworn in again by December, his second term—capped at five years under Nigerian law—runs until December 2025. As of April 08, 2025, Yakubu has roughly eight months left, a timeline confirmed by both INEC and presidential statements. This places his exit well ahead of the February 2027 general elections, ensuring a transition period for his successor, who will require presidential nomination and Senate approval.
The rumor’s timing, just months before this natural conclusion, suggests either opportunistic misinformation or a misreading of INEC’s leadership cycle.
Yakubu’s tenure has been marked by significant electoral events, notably the 2023 general elections, and ongoing reforms, making his role a lightning rod for scrutiny and speculation.
The 2023 Elections, the controversies and Beyond
Yakubu’s chairmanship has not been without controversy, particularly following the 2023 elections.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, speaking at Yale University’s Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum in late 2024, labeled those polls a “travesty” and demanded Yakubu’s removal, citing alleged irregularities that undermined public faith. His critique, echoed by some civil society groups, reflects a broader call for electoral overhaul—a sentiment Yakubu himself has acknowledged by pushing for reforms, including a proposed retreat with the National Assembly to amend the 2022 Electoral Act.
Yet, Yakubu has his defenders. Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in November 2024, dismissed Obasanjo’s stance as “partisan” and “ill-advised,” praising Yakubu’s efforts to modernize INEC, such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). The Citizens for Democratic Reforms (CDF) similarly argued in November 2024 that Yakubu’s leadership has curbed elite control over elections, shifting power to voters—a point echoed in a September 2024 Vanguard piece hailing 2024 as a “milestone year” for INEC’s efficiency under Yakubu.
Recent developments bolster this narrative. In January 2025, Yakubu announced INEC’s implementation of 142 stakeholder recommendations from the 2023 election review, including enhanced training and technology deployment. His January 22, 2025, announcement of the February 21, 2026, FCT Area Council elections further demonstrates his focus on operational continuity, even as he flags rising election costs as a concern for lawmakers.
Misinformation’s Broader Threat
The April 2025 rumor is not an isolated incident. In December 2024, INEC battled false claims of Yakubu’s death, with Oyekanmi noting Yakubu’s active presence at meetings on December 11 and 12—events widely covered by media.
This pattern of fabricated narratives, from death hoaxes to dismissal tales, highlights a systemic challenge: misinformation’s power to destabilize trust in Nigeria’s democracy. INEC’s consistent rebuttals, often paired with appeals to “genuine media professionals,” signal a proactive stance, but the recurrence suggests deeper societal vulnerabilities.
Looking Ahead: Legacy and Transition
With Yakubu’s term ending in December 2025, the focus shifts to his legacy and INEC’s future. His tenure has seen technological strides (e.g., BVAS), logistical feats (e.g., 20 by-elections since 2023), and a push for inclusivity, like the May 2024 framework for inmates’ voting rights. Yet, financial strains—evident in his January 2025 plea for a ₦126 billion budget—underscore the challenges his successor will inherit.
The debunked rumor of April 7, 2025, is a fleeting distraction from these stakes. Yakubu remains in place, his exit predetermined by law, and not politics.
As Nigeria prepares for 2027, the real story lies not in WhatsApp whispers but in the ongoing battle to fortify its electoral system.
