JUST IN: APC negates Tinubu US entry denial, shares visa

• APC has negated the trending issue that Tinubu was denied entry into the US
• Festus Keyamo responded to the rumor of the visa denial by releasing a picture of Tinubu’s US visa in order to silence his detractors.

The All Progressives Congress Presidential, APC Campaign Council has negated the claim that Bola Tinubu, the party’s nominee for president, postponed his trip to the United States, which was supposed to begin this month because he was turned down for a visa.

RNN has previously reported that Tinubu planned to visit important western capitals beginning on December 4 and that he will return to Nigeria no later than December 12 to continue holding campaign rallies and engaging with stakeholders.

After a few days, the APC PPC rejected a picture of Tinubu and President Biden that had gone viral, claiming it was “the latest attempt in a series of misinformation being spread by the political opposition.”

Festus Keyamo, the party’s PPC spokesperson, responded to the rumor of the visa denial by releasing a picture of Tinubu’s US visa in order to silence his detractors.

“For mischief-makers who peddle unfounded rumors about Bola Tinubu being denied a visa to the US, you leave us with no option but to show you his current visa (that has always been renewed since time immemorial). 

“This is for the misguided ones who believe these rumors,” Keyamo said on his verified social media handles.

For mischief-makers who peddle unfounded rumours about ⁦@officialABAT⁩ being denied visa to the US, you leave us with no option but to show you his current visa (that has always been renewed since time immemorial). This is for the misguided ones who believe these rumours pic.twitter.com/JsgB7zqdnv

— Festus Keyamo, SAN (@fkeyamo) December 3, 2022

Contrary to a report that Bola Tinubu was denied a visa by United Kingdom authorities, the APC Presidential Campaign Council PCC said its candidate is already off to London.

Director, Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Mr. Bayo Onanuga disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

There had been social media reports that Tinubu, scheduled to speak at Chatham House on Monday, was denied a visa to the UK.

Onanuga also took a swipe at Arise Television over its constant broadcast of an advertisement about its scheduled town hall meeting which Tinubu had already declined participation.

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“We find it shocking and downright anomalous that Arise News continues to broadcast the participation of All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in its Presidential Town Hall meeting scheduled to hold on 4 December 2022 despite our earlier statement that our candidate will not be available.

“We noticed that Arise News has also been running a campaign on the so-called constitutional duty of the presidential candidates to participate in its debate by dubiously citing section 22 of the Constitution of Nigeria on the obligation of the Mass Media”, said Onanuga.

He said while it is trite that the media has a clear constitutional duty to hold public office holders accountable to the citizens and its role as the watchdog of the society, there is no part of the Constitution and section 22 that says a presidential candidate of any political party and least of all, Tinubu must participate in Arise News Town Hall event or any media organized event at all.

“The same Constitution grants all citizens of Nigeria including, Asiwaju Tinubu the right and freedom of choice and association. The APC Presidential candidate has a right to decide where he goes and what events to participate in as he seeks the mandate of Nigerians to be elected as the next President of our country.

“We want to make it abundantly clear again that Asiwaju Tinubu will not participate and will not attend the Arise News Town Hall meeting slated for Sunday, 4 December 2022, and any other ones it may plan before the February 2023 presidential election.

“The APC Presidential candidate has his own schedule of campaign activities and other engagements within and outside Nigeria. One such event is his scheduled event for Monday, December 5, 2022, at Chatham House in London where he will speak on Security, Economy, and Foreign Policy.

“Asiwaju Tinubu traveled to the United Kingdom early today (Saturday) for this earlier scheduled engagement. We want to reiterate for the umpteenth time that no amount of blackmail, intimidation, and media bullying and innuendos by the owner and management of Arise News will change the position our campaign has taken on this matter”, he stated.