The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has debunked the rumours that its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu , was rushed off the stage at his rally in Minna, Niger state, due to health concerns.
Bayo Onanuga, the director, Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Council, said this in a statement shared on Tinubu/Shettima's official campaign website.
Onanuga said Tinubu left the rally early on Wednesday, December 14,to attend to other programmes of the day, The Punch reports.
According to the campaign spokesman, the crowd that turned up to welcome Tinubu at the rally was so massive that the former governor of Lagos state had to address them briefly.
The statement read in part:“The crowd was so huge that Tinubu spoke briefly to appreciate the supporters and identified the party candidates seeking elective positions.
“Contrary to the rumours that he was rushed off stage because of health concerns, Tinubu cut it short to attend to other programmes of the day.
“He commended the party supporters for coming out en masse to witness the flag off of the presidential campaign.”
According to the statement, Tinubu inaugurated his campaign office in Minna after leaving the rally.
It was gathered that the office was donated by the Blueprint Newspaper Publisher and Chairman, Strategic Communications of the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi.
Tinubu also visited the Emir of Minna and was later hosted in a luncheon organised by the Governor of Niger, Abubakar Bello.
Earlier, the APC flagbearer arrived in Kaduna State for the North-West flag-off of the party’s presidential and governorship campaign rally in Kaduna on Tuesday, December 13.
Tinubu was accompanied by his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, the Director General of APC Presidential Campaign Council and Governor of Plateau state, Simon Lalong, the Governors of Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje, Kebbi, Atiku Bagudu and Jigawa, Abubakar Badaru.
They were received at the Dana Airport in Kaduna by Governor Nasir El-Rufai and the state APC governorship candidate, Senator Uba Sani among other top Kaduna state government officials, Channels TV reported.
Following his arrival in Kaduna, the former Lagos State governor proceeded to Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, one of the councils ravaged by insurgency and banditry.
He is visiting the area to commiserate with the victims of attacks and also get a piece of first-hand information on the devastation of the attacks.
Tinubu also embarking on the two and half hours trip to Birnin Gwari by road, amidst tight security.