Atiku Demands Explanation for Tinubu’s Third Consecutive UNGA Absence
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has demanded an explanation from President Bola Tinubu over his decision to miss the United Nations General Assembly for the third consecutive year, questioning whether the President’s past dealings with United States authorities have influenced his repeated absence from the high-level diplomatic gathering.
The Presidency on Sunday confirmed that Tinubu would not attend the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, directing Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation.
Shettima is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement and participate in high-level meetings and bilateral engagements with foreign leaders, international organisations and development partners during the UNGA week.
Reacting in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said Tinubu had now missed the 79th UNGA in 2024, the 80th in 2025 and the ongoing 81st session in 2026.
He argued that while the Vice President could adequately represent Nigeria, repeated presidential absence from the gathering could not substitute for the direct authority and visibility of the President in high-level diplomatic engagements.
According to him, the UNGA provides national leaders with opportunities to advance their countries’ interests through bilateral meetings, investment discussions, trade negotiations, development partnerships and consultations on global security and economic issues.
“Presidential absence on the global stage has consequences,” Atiku said, arguing that the implications could eventually affect ordinary Nigerians through reduced investment opportunities, fewer jobs and increased economic pressures.
Atiku also questioned reports that Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, had made arrangements for Tinubu to occupy a seat close to United States President Donald Trump during the General Assembly.
“The seat was secured, but the President disappeared,” he said.
Ibrahim had earlier disclosed in July that Tinubu planned to attend the 81st UNGA and that arrangements had been made for the Nigerian President to sit near Trump. The Presidency subsequently confirmed on Sunday that Shettima would lead Nigeria’s delegation instead.
The former Vice President further questioned reports concerning alleged expenditure of up to $9 million on American lobbyists by the Tinubu administration, asking what value Nigeria had derived from the expenditure while the President repeatedly stayed away from the United States.
He also raised questions about Tinubu’s legal history in the United States, citing a 1993 forfeiture case in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Atiku referred to documents relating to the case and alleged that funds held in accounts associated with Tinubu and companies linked to him had been connected to narcotics trafficking and money laundering. He said the proceedings eventually resulted in the forfeiture of about $460,000 to the US government.
However, Atiku acknowledged that he was not claiming that Tinubu was legally barred from entering the United States.
“We are not asserting that Tinubu is legally prohibited from entering the United States,” he said, while questioning whether the President’s repeated absence from UNGA had any connection with the historical US proceedings.
Atiku said Nigerians were entitled to ask whether the President’s decision not to attend the UNGA was related to the matter.
He also questioned the government’s foreign-policy priorities, contrasting Nigeria’s reported military intervention in Benin Republic following the December 2025 attempted coup with the President’s absence from the UN platform.
“Nigeria could project military power across its border, yet its President could not project Nigeria’s voice from its seat at the United Nations,” he said.
Atiku consequently called on the Presidency to clarify whether Tinubu was free to travel to the United States and explain the reasons for his continued absence from the annual diplomatic gathering.
“Nigeria is bigger than Bola. Our diplomatic influence, economic interests and international reputation must not be subordinated to Tinubu’s American baggage,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Jimoh Ibrahim, has defended the country’s representation at the 81st UNGA, saying Nigeria remains adequately represented by the Shettima-led delegation.
Ibrahim said more than 60 per cent of speakers listed for the session were being represented by vice presidents or foreign ministers and stressed that it was not unusual for countries to delegate representation when their presidents could not attend.
He also said Nigeria would retain its designated position at the General Assembly and continue to participate fully in diplomatic engagements surrounding the session.
The 81st UNGA high-level General Debate is scheduled for September 22–28, 2026, under the theme, “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All.”
