Claim: A Twitter user Ifedolapo Osun – in a viral tweet – shared a video announcement that Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of All Progressive Congress, is set to marry a second wife on Saturday, February 18.
Verdict: The claim that Bola Tinubu is taking a northern wife is incorrect. The video jingle and announcement are fake.
Full Text
A viral jingle announcement on social media platforms claimed Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of All Progressive Congress, is purportedly taking a second wife on Saturday, February 18.
The video announcement stated that Mr Tinubu is billed to marry Khadija Abubakar Wagini in central mosque Katsina state. A picture of Mr Tinubu and Mrs Wagini was merged to suggest pre-wedding moments.
Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina state was said to represent Ms Wagini at the scheduled event, while the governor of Kano state represents Mr Tinubu. Business mogul Dahiru Mangal was said to be the chief host.
“Tinubu is set to marry a Northern wife,” Twitter user Ifedolapo Osun wrote on February 11, exactly two weeks before Nigeria’s presidential elections. “For you to know how desperate Tinubu is concerning Northern votes, he’s set to marry a northerner this Saturday in Katsina,” the tweet reads.
“Meanwhile, some people will say Yoruba ronu, Why is Tinubu leaving your sister to marry a NORTHERNER???”
The tweets would soon go viral on social media a few hours later, with some massively engaging the claims. By February 16, the tweet had reached 114,000 people on Twitter, and 18,000 people had watched the video.
On February 12, a day after Mr Osun’s tweet, another Twitter user @Spotlight_Abby, shared the video tweeting: “Is this a joke or something? Guess who is allegedly set to marry a sisi baby from Katsina in a desperate bid to secure Northern votes? E no fit recite prayers, na this one e go fit do? I laugh in Game of Thrones.”
Over 30,000 people watched the video a few days later, and the tweet content reached 154,000 Twitter users.
Another user, Legit (@theofficial_p), said: “Bola Tinubu getting married to Ms Khadija Abubakar to sway NW votes is the most desperate thing I’ve ever seen in election season. I mean, should Northwestern folks rejoice and cast their vote for this or what? I will wait for @gimbakakanda & @Waspapping_ thoughts on this.”
Sir Ted (@Deau_Ugwoke), another Twitter user, said, “it’s obvious BAT is desperate to secure the bag (northern votes) & he’s ready to go to any length to achieve that, but he’ll fail woefully.” Many comments under the tweets came similarly.
Nigerians will elect a new president and federal lawmakers on February 25, while state elections will be held on March 11. Mr Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos state, is the candidate of the ruling party for the presidential election.
Verification
Bayo Onanuga, the Director of Media and Publicity of the Tinubu campaign council, debunked claims that Mr Tinubu is getting married.
“It’s fake news,” Mr Onanuga said, adding, “Tinubu is not taking a second wife. He is a contented monogamist.”
On February 18, Mr Tinubu is scheduled to be in northeast Borno for the APC presidential campaign rally.
Conclusion
At no point did Mr Tinubu announce that he was getting married. The claim is false.
