Multiple social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter claim that the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said fuel scarcity is putting the election at risk.
The posts suggest that Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC chairman, said this at a meeting with the group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
One of such posts was shared on January 30, 2023, stating that “Fuel queue is putting election at risk…(sic) INEC chairman meets GMD of NNPC.”
Verification
This claim follows a news report published on January 29, 2023, stating that INEC intends to hold a high-level meeting with the NNPCL.
The country has been experiencing a scarcity of premium motor spirit (PMS), which was attributed to NNPCL’s insufficient product supply. The electoral commission said it is willing to meet with the NNPCL to resolve logistics issues before the elections.
Festus Okoye, the INEC national commissioner for information and voter education, told the CDD Election War Room, that the chairman has not said such.
Okoye said the INEC chairman could not have made the alleged claim when the meeting has not yet been held.
He, however, confirmed that a meeting with the NNPCL will take place on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at 4 pm.
Verdict
The statement ascribed to the INEC chairman is false.
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