The presidency has denied widespread speculation that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has been removed from office by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Rumours circulated on Monday that Yakubu, who is expected to conclude his second tenure as the electoral umpire's boss in December, had been sacked and replaced by Professor Bashir Olamilekan. However, despite President Tinubu currently being out of the country, the presidency dismissed the claims.
Barrister Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, said there was no truth to the reports.
"The story trending across media platforms to the effect that Mr President @officialABAT has either sacked the INEC chairman or has replaced the INEC chairman is not true and should be discountenanced," Bwala posted on his X handle.
He added: "Decisions or official acts of Mr President are communicated through official channels and not the rumour mill."
Similarly, O'tega Ogra, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Digital and New Media, emphasised that any announcement regarding changes in the electoral body's leadership would come through the appropriate government sources.
"The Nigerian public should disregard any fake news making the rounds about the replacement of the INEC chairman," Ogra wrote.
"Any such announcement will come from the SGF's office or any other appropriate official source," he added.
