Media personality Adams Kehinde, known professionally as Lege Miami, has said that the video circulating online showing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stumbling during a state visit to Turkey is not real.
The clip, which spread widely on social media on Tuesday, appeared to show the Nigerian president losing his balance briefly as he walked with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at a ceremonial welcome in Ankara. In the original footage from the reception ceremony, the president was seen momentarily losing his footing and being assisted by aides before continuing with the programme.
In a post on his Instagram account on Wednesday, Lege Miami described the viral clip as artificial and said it was created with artificial intelligence.
“Mr President didn’t fall. The video circulating is AI‑generated. It was the opposition party that created that video because of the upcoming election. It is their pattern.
I will post my video where Mr President marched with the Turkish President, and you will see it for yourself. Our president didn’t fall. I will post a video of Mr President marching with the Turkish president. Stop the fake news,” he wrote.
Lege Miami urged Nigerians to avoid spreading false news about government officials.
The presidency also addressed the matter in an official statement. Aides said the incident was caused by a poorly laid carpet at the venue and stressed that it did not affect the president’s health or schedule.
In a post on social media, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Social Media Dada Olusegun said Mr Tinubu “missed his step very briefly and has continued his bilateral meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.” The statement added that a live press conference was happening immediately after the bilateral talks.
Government officials have repeatedly said the President is in good health and carrying out his duties as planned.
