APC campaign rally in Minna ends abruptly as Tinubu fails to make a speech

Our reporter| The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu on Wednesday appeared at his campaign rally in Niger State but failed to make a speech.

The event, which took place at the Trade Fair Complex Minna, drew a crowd that gathered to catch a glimpse of the APC flagbearer.

However, a frail looking Tinubu made a brief appearance at the rally that lasted about seven minutes without making a speech.

The former Lagos state governor after being ushered into the podium only managed to APC shout, APC! Nigeria!‘Niger Sai Bagode.’

Tinubu subsequently returned to his seat, a development that made the Master of Ceremony announce the end of the rally.

Wednesday’s rally was attended by Vice Presidential Candidate, Kashim Shettima, Senate President, Dr. Ahmed Lawan, and several governors of the party including Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano) and Simon Bako Lalong (Plateau) who is also the Director-General of the campaign.

Meanwhile, the director, media and publicity, All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, has denied speculation that Tinubu was rushed off the stage due to health concerns at the Minna rally in Minna.

According to Onanuga, 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.

Onanuga made the disclosure in a statement shared on the official website of the APC presidential candidate and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.

“A massive crowd of APC supporters welcomed the presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to Minna on Wednesday, as he arrived for the mega rally, the statement reads.

“The cheering crowd was unprecedented, according to journalists at the Trade Fair Complex, venue of the rally.

“Tinubu, who held another successful rally in Kaduna on Tuesday, arrived in Minna in the evening of the same day for a series of meetings with APC leaders.

“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 Onanuga, Tinubu after the rally, inaugurated his campaign office in the city, donated by Blueprint Newspaper Publisher and Chairman, Strategic Communications of the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council, Mohammed Malagi.

He also paid a visit to the Emir of Minna and was later hosted in a luncheon organised by the Governor of Niger, Abubakar Bello.