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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu fell briefly during a ceremonial parade organised for his reception in Turkey The incident happened as President Tinubu joined the guard of honour Tinubu is in Turkey to consolidate the relationship with Nigeria and also explore new areas of cooperation Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering politics, elections, public affairs, and governance in Nigeria and Africa.
Ankara, Turkey – President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, missed his step briefly and fell in Ankara, the capital of Turkey.
As reported by Vanguard, the Nigerian leader was walking alongside his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Erdogan, when the incident happened.
A viral moment shows President Bola Tinubu stumbling during an official visit to Turkey. Photo credit: @aonanuga1956
Source: Twitter Per Daily Trust, Tinubu had earlier inspected a parade as part of the reception accorded to him.
The awkward moment involving the 73-year-old Nigerian leader sparked widespread reactions on social media, especially on X (formerly Twitter).
The trending X video can be watched below:
X users react as Tinubu falls in Turkey Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s aide wrote on X:
“Everything appears to be collapsing around us. Did the National Grid take a cue from President Tinubu in its collapse, or the President took a cue from the National Grid? Asking for a friend.” @Kasieobi_1 said on X:
“It’s time to call it quits, for he’s too old for the job. He should go and enjoy his loots in peace.” @prinxe_B reacted via X:
“Stumble or no stumble, the work doesn’t stop. PBAT (referring to Tinubu) showed us that being human doesn’t get in the way of being a leader. He caught his footing and got straight back to the business of the nation. Stay focused on the big picture!” @nigerianoise said via X:
“Let anyone reading this thread swear on their village ancestors that they’ve NEVER tripped, slipped, or fallen flat before – even without a suit, camera crew, or international spotlight. It’s the most basic human experience since we started walking upright. Gravity no dey send who you be o! Mr. President. Nothing do you.” @lukeeseosa wrote on X:
“This isn’t just an embarrassing stumble, it highlights the worrying state of leadership when the nation’s highest office is in question. Nigerians deserve a president who can represent the country abroad with dignity, not one struggling to stay on his feet.” @debo_rev tweeted via his account:
“I know that most haters will be glad and be mocking him. “Those who fail to learn from history will become victims of the present. How many people remember that, it’s that time of the season of elections and campaign when the president was falling everywhere during campaign? And it looked like he was not going to make it alive? We are in that season again. And na so him go dey do and you people will mistake it for frailties, and the city boy will scale through again.” Not Tinubu’s first public fall Legit.ng reports that it is not the first time that President Tinubu has fallen at public events.
On June 12, 2024, Tinubu lost his footing and fell while trying to board a motorcade to inspect the colourfully decked Guard of Honour at that year’s Democracy Day parade at Eagle Square in Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja.
Tinubu arrived at the venue of the annual parade around noon, decked in his signature cap matched with a blue Agbada. He arrived at Eagle Square alongside his wife, Remi, to mark this year’s Democracy Day, his second in office.
Upon his arrival, as was the custom, the septuagenarian was led to the presidential motorcade to observe the parade in commemoration of the historic occasion.
As the president tried to board the motorcade, he missed his step and crashed into the stationary open-air vehicle, but was quickly supported by his military aides.
Tinubu regained his composure quite fast and continued with the business of the day, smiling as he acknowledged cheers from well-wishers and observed the parade.
Subsequently, Tinubu joked about the fall. In the evening (of June 12, 2024), while giving a speech at the banquet dinner organised as part of the day’s events, the president noted he was all over social media after falling.
President Bola Tinubu falls again during a public event. Photo credit: Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Source: Facebook Tinubu said:
“Early this morning, I had a swagger, and it’s on the social media. They’re confused whether I was doing buga or doing babanriga (referring to two popular dance moves in Nigeria). But it’s a day to celebrate democracy while doing dobale [yoruba term for bowing to greet elders] for the day. I’m a traditional Yoruba boy, I did my dobale.” One of his aides described it as a “mild misstep” and said the president had been able to continue with the rest of the day’s programme.
Dada Olusegun, senior special adviser to the president on social media, wrote on X:
“He immediately went on with the ceremonial rounds. No issues.” Coup plot against Tinubu Legit.ng earlier reported that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) had finally confirmed a coup plot to overthrow President Tinubu.
In a statement, Samaila Uba, director of defence information, said investigations conducted in line with established military procedures found some personnel involved in a coup plot.
Source: Legit.ng
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