Following the September 28 greenlight given by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that campaigns for the 2023 general election could commence, speculations over the wellbeing and whereabouts of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have been rife.

While it was speculated in some quarters that he had travelled to London, the United Kingdom, for urgent medical attention, news that he was fine and was only preparing for his party’s campaign train, which will commence on October 10, also gained traction.

Amid the speculation, Tinubu released a video of himself working out on a fitness bike on Sunday. This was immediately followed by an organised women march in Lagos on Monday to show support for his candidature.

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While reacting to the growing speculations concerning the candidate’s whereabouts as a guest on the Arise TV Morning Show on Wednesday, Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, Lagos APC Women Leader, said Tinubu would return to the country in 48 hours.

“He has never spent more than two weeks outside,” Okoya-Thomas said.

CLAIM: Tinubu has never been away from Nigeria for a period longer than two weeks.

“I am a women leader,” Okoya-Thomas responded when she was asked about her principal’s present location. She then went on to say, “In 48 hours, he will show up. He has never spent more than two weeks outside.”

VERIFICATION: To verify Okoya-Thomas’ claims, FIJ reviewed news reports of his recent trips to foreign countries.

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We found that on October 8, 2021, Tinubu returned from London after spending three months there.

During his stay in London, no fewer than 30 politicians visited him and took pictures.

CONCLUSION: Tinubu has spent longer than two weeks while on a trip to a foreign country.

VERDICT: The claim that Tinubu has never been away from the country for more than two weeks is false.