Former presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, has alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is unwell and “managing his health,” adding that Senate President Godswill Akpabio is “practically dying.”
Sowore made the claims in a post on 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) on Sunday while reacting to the president’s abrupt trip abroad.
President Tinubu, who had been in Lagos for the Christmas and New Year holiday, departed Nigeria for Europe on Sunday. According to a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the president will also embark on an official visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where he is expected to participate in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit at the invitation of UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Sowore’s Claims
In his post, Sowore alleged that the president’s trip was health-related and criticised what he described as a pattern of leaders managing serious health conditions while in office.
He wrote:
“Nigeria’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu is unwell just managing himself, reason he’s abruptly flown to ‘Europe’ today. @Senator_Akpabio is practically dying, why is Nigeria governed by sick people?
And whereas nothing is wrong with illnesses it is callous to use a country as health insurance for sick leaders.”
Official Position
The Presidency has not confirmed Sowore’s allegations. The official communication from the president’s media office stated that Tinubu’s trip is connected to official engagements in Europe and Abu Dhabi, including participation in an international summit.
Akpabio has also not responded publicly to Sowore’s remarks as of press time.
Sowore’s comments come amid recurring public debates about the health status of political leaders and calls for greater transparency regarding medical trips and fitness for office.