Quadri Yahya
Claim:
A news report published on local online media outlets claimed that the United State Embassy in Nigeria had denied the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu visa to travel to the U.S based on the latter’s health condition.
The report was first published on September 17, 2022.
Verdict:
The claim is misleading.
Full Text:
Some local online media platforms published news report claiming that the United State Embassy in Nigeria had denied the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu a visa to travel to the U.S based on Tinubu’s health.
The report, which was based on another undisclosed report, stated that the United State Department issued a memo to forward the U.S President Joe Biden of Tinubu’s ‘health challenges’.
The media outlet further said in its report that all campaign teams of the APC presidential candidate were denied visas.
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The media has the power to make or mar the status of any personality.
Considering the controversy around the health status of the former Lagos State governor, Tinubu, the news report is capable of further deepening the dispute.
FactCheckElection decided to investigate this report to ascertain its authenticity.
Verification:
To fact-check this claim, FactCheckElection conducted research to know the timeline of the APC presidential candidate travel outside the country.
FactCheckElection found a news report on credible media outlets that Tinubu met with some party leaders in the United Kingdom on September 24, 2022.
Spokesman of the All Progressives Congress, APC presidential campaign council, Festus Keyamo had also debunked the news report.
On October 3, 2022, the Deputy National publicity Secretary of the APC, Murtala Ajaka also made it known that Tinubu was on a consultation visit to London.
Conclusion:
Although the media outlet that first published the news report insisted that its findings were factual, it doesn’t support it with fact.
FactCheckElection findings show that the APC presidential candidate has access to travel to the United Kingdom.