President Tinubu stumbles, falls in Turkey but visits on course

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu slipped and fell over during an official welcome and inspection of the guard of honour at his ongoing state visit in Ankara, the capital of Turkiye.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, as he walked alongside Turkish President Recep Erdogan.

Tinubu appeared to have missed his step but was quickly assisted by officials, helping him regain his balance.

Tinubu is in Turkey to consolidate the relationship with Nigeria and also explore new areas of cooperation.

During the visit, Tinubu will hold bilateral talks with his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, on issues of trade, security, investment and regional cooperation.

The programme will also feature the signing of several memoranda of understanding between the two nations, alongside other high-level official engagements.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu has now stumbled twice in public since assuming office in 2023. The first incident occurred during the 2024 Democracy Day celebration at Eagle Square, Abuja, when he slipped while climbing into an official vehicle, but quickly got back on his feet and continued the event.

Reacting later, Tinubu downplayed the moment, describing it as a “swagger” and joking that he was simply observing Yoruba tradition. “I’m a traditional Yoruba boy, I did my ‘dobale,” the president said.