The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the house attacked in a viral video does not belong to Mahmood Yakubu, its chairman.
On Saturday, reports surfaced on social media alleging that the house of INEC’s chairman was under attack.
Videos shared on Twitter showed a crowd of angry youths brandishing cutlasses and sticks breaking into the said house.
“INEC chairman’s house under attack by angry northern youths,” reads one of the tweets.
https://twitter.com/starblackmedia/status/1639649690454224898?s=20
INEC Chairman's house today in Bauchi. Angry youths have visited him. pic.twitter.com/yzS14Vckum
— #DERANGED HOPELESSNESS #NOTRENEWED #PRAYFORNIGERIA (@Osekita) March 25, 2023
However, shortly after the videos went viral, Rotimi Oyekanmi, Yakubu’s spokesperson, released a statement distancing the INEC chairman from ownership of the house under attack.
The property being purportedly attacked by some youths in a video clip circulating on the social media does not belong to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
The INEC Chairman does not own the property in question in either Bauchi or anywhere else around the world.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/HBbUKUdmWc
— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) March 25, 2023
“The property being purportedly attacked by some youths in a video clip circulating on social media does not belong to the INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. The INEC Chairman does not own the property in question in either Bauchi or anywhere else around the world,” the statement reads.
“This narrative is indeed the latest in the series of desperate smear campaign efforts by mischief makers. The public should disregard it.”