Rotimi Oyekanmi, spokesman of the immediate-past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has dismissed reports suggesting that the staff of the commission sang a “funeral song” for his principal during his exit from office.
Oyekanmi, who exited the commission alongside Yakubu, said the reports were a deliberate attempt to distort the facts, stressing that the songs rendered by INEC staff were expressions of love and appreciation, not mockery.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, the spokesman described the publication, “particularly one by Sahara Reporters” as “a false and shameful piece of disinformation conjured by haters masquerading as journalists.”
“The visible show of love and respect displayed by appreciative INEC staff at the commission’s headquarters yesterday, as the departing former INEC Chairman, Yakubu, walked to his car, is now being intentionally misinterpreted and misrepresented as a ‘funeral song,’” Oyekanmi said.
“This deliberate piece of disinformation can only be conjured by a set of haters masquerading as journalists at Sahara Reporters. But they have failed and will continue to fail.”
He said the former INEC chairman was widely celebrated by staff for his “transformative policies” that improved welfare, promoted merit-based advancement, and enhanced capacity development across all levels of the commission.
“Contrary to the misleading report, the majority of INEC staff openly talked about Prof. Yakubu’s transformative policies that, over the last 10 years, led to senior and junior staff promotions, more allowances, and several capacity development initiatives,” he said.
“Journalism is about facts, accuracy and truthfulness, not a vehicle to be misused by pseudo-journalists to embark on a campaign of calumny against individuals.”
Oyekanmi urged Sahara Reporters to rein in its reporters and desist from publishing falsehoods that could damage the credibility of individuals and institutions.
“It is high time the management of Sahara Reporters cautioned persons using its platform to spread lies about individuals, institutions and events, which will be detrimental to the newspaper’s reputation in the long run. Prof. Yakubu’s place in history is assured, no matter the lies being spread by familiar forces,” he added.
LEADERSHIP reports that Prof. Yakubu bowed out as INEC Chairman on Tuesday, handing over to Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior National Commissioner, who now serves as Acting Chairman pending the appointment of a substantive head.
Yakubu, who was first appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari on October 21, 2015, and reappointed in December 2020, said his decision to step down was to allow for a smooth transition and continuity of electoral activities.
During the handover ceremony, Agbamuche-Mbu praised Yakubu for his leadership and reforms, noting that he had “set a high record of service” during his tenure.
The outgone chairman was also honoured with an Excellence Service Delivery Award during INEC’s 2025 Customer Service Week celebration.
As Yakubu took a final walk out of the commission’s headquarters after group photographs with staff, many employees were seen singing and cheering, a moment Oyekanmi said was wrongly twisted into a negative narrative.
“What happened was a farewell praise, not a dirge,” he insisted.
