Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has asked President Bola Tinubu to explain his decision to miss the United Nations General Assembly for a third consecutive year, while the Presidency says Nigeria remains fully represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has demanded an explanation from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his decision not to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Tinubu has mandated Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 2026 General Assembly, marking the third consecutive year that Shettima will represent the President at the annual gathering. Shettima represented Tinubu at the 79th UNGA in 2024 and the 80th in 2025.
Atiku's criticism came after the Presidency formally confirmed that Tinubu would not personally attend this year's high-level session, ending weeks of speculation over the President's plans.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that three consecutive absences should not simply be regarded as routine delegation.
Atiku Questions Repeated Presidential Absence
Atiku said the UN General Assembly provides an important platform for national leaders to engage directly with other heads of government, negotiate partnerships and discuss issues affecting their countries.
He argued that although Shettima could represent Nigeria, repeated delegation could not permanently substitute for the President's personal presence and diplomatic visibility.
According to Atiku, the sidelines of the UNGA also provide opportunities for bilateral meetings, investment discussions, trade partnerships and negotiations over development financing.
He questioned whether Nigeria could maximise those opportunities when the President was repeatedly absent from the gathering.
Atiku's comments are political criticism of the administration, rather than an established finding that Tinubu's absence has caused specific economic losses.
Presidency Says Shettima Will Represent Nigeria
The Presidency has confirmed that Shettima will lead Nigeria's delegation to the 81st UNGA.
According to the announcement, the Vice President will deliver Nigeria's national statement and participate in high-level meetings and bilateral engagements during the General Assembly.
The delegation is also expected to include Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, ministers and other senior government officials.
The 81st UNGA General Debate is scheduled for September 22 to 28, 2026.
The Presidency said Shettima's engagements would focus on issues including national development, peace and security, economic growth, international cooperation, climate action and reform of the global financial architecture.
Nigeria's UN Envoy Defends Tinubu's Absence
Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has also defended the decision.
Ibrahim said it was not unusual for countries to send vice presidents or foreign ministers to represent their presidents at the General Assembly.
He noted that more than 60 per cent of those listed to speak at the current UNGA were being represented by either vice presidents or foreign ministers.
Ibrahim said Nigeria would retain its designated position at the General Assembly, with Shettima representing Tinubu.
He also said Tinubu's absence was because the President was currently in France on annual leave.
Ibrahim maintained that Nigeria would participate fully in the proceedings despite the President's absence.
Tinubu's Attendance Had Previously Been Expected
The decision represents a change from earlier expectations.
In July, Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the UN had said Tinubu would personally attend the 81st UNGA. Reports at the time indicated that preparations had been made for the President's participation.
The latest confirmation from the Presidency therefore ended weeks of uncertainty over whether Tinubu would travel to New York.
Shettima's departure for New York now places him at the centre of Nigeria's official participation in the high-level session.
Atiku Raises Tinubu's US Legal History
In his statement, Atiku also questioned whether Tinubu's past legal proceedings in the United States had any connection to his repeated absence from the UNGA.
Atiku referred to a 1993 US court case involving funds held in accounts associated with Tinubu and companies linked to him. He cited a forfeiture proceeding in which approximately $460,000 was forfeited to the US government.
Atiku asked whether that history had affected Tinubu's relationship with US authorities and his decision to attend events in the United States.
However, Atiku expressly said he was not claiming that Tinubu is legally prohibited from entering the United States.
That distinction is important. The reports reviewed do not establish that Tinubu is barred from entering the US.
Presidency Rejects Claims of US Travel Problem
The Presidency has rejected suggestions that Tinubu's absence is connected to any restriction on his ability to travel to the United States.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Osodi, described the suggestion as an old political argument.
Speaking on Channels Television's Sunday Politics, Osodi said he had personally accompanied Tinubu during the President's 2023 visit to the United States.
He also said Tinubu had subsequently transited through Los Angeles while travelling to Japan.
Osodi argued that the President's absence from this year's UNGA should therefore not be interpreted as evidence of a problem with US authorities.
Presidency Says Domestic Issues Are a Priority
Osodi also said Tinubu's current focus includes domestic matters such as the economy and security.
He argued that Nigeria's international role would not change because the President is not physically present at this particular UN gathering.
According to the presidential aide, Nigeria belongs to several regional and international groupings beyond the United Nations, and the administration continues to engage through those platforms.
The position contrasts with Atiku's argument that the President's personal participation at the UNGA has diplomatic value that cannot always be replicated by delegation.
What Shettima Will Do at the UNGA
As head of Nigeria's delegation, Shettima is expected to deliver the country's national statement during the General Debate.
He will also participate in high-level meetings and bilateral discussions with other leaders, international organisations and development partners.
The Presidency said these engagements would provide opportunities to advance Nigeria's economic diplomacy and pursue discussions around investment, development, climate finance and international cooperation.
The Vice President is expected to return to Nigeria after completing the engagements in New York.
Third Consecutive Absence
Tinubu's absence from the 81st UNGA follows two previous years in which Shettima represented him.
In 2024, Shettima attended the 79th General Assembly on Tinubu's behalf.
He also represented the President at the 80th session in 2025.
Tinubu's last personal appearance at the UN General Assembly was in September 2023, when he addressed world leaders during the 78th session.
The latest decision means that the President will not personally address the high-level General Debate for a third consecutive year.
Atiku Says Nigerians Deserve an Explanation
Atiku maintained that the repeated absence raises questions that the Presidency should address.
He argued that the General Assembly is more than a ceremonial gathering because leaders use the event to conduct diplomatic meetings and pursue economic and strategic relationships.
He also questioned reports that Nigeria had secured a seat for Tinubu close to US President Donald Trump, arguing that the opportunity would have had diplomatic value if the President had attended.
Atiku additionally questioned reports that the Nigerian government had spent millions of dollars on lobbying efforts in the United States and asked what Nigerians had received in return.
Those claims about lobbying expenditure were raised by Atiku and should be understood as his allegation; the reports reviewed do not independently establish the figure as fact.
The Debate Over Representation
The disagreement between Atiku and the Presidency centres partly on the value of presidential attendance at major international gatherings.
The Presidency argues that Nigeria can be effectively represented by the Vice President and other senior officials.
Atiku, meanwhile, argues that repeated presidential absence reduces the opportunities for direct presidential diplomacy.
Both positions concern the role of the President at international meetings, but there is no established evidence in the sources reviewed that Nigeria has suffered a specific investment, trade or diplomatic loss because of Tinubu's absence from the previous two UNGA sessions.
What is confirmed is that Shettima will lead Nigeria's delegation in 2026 and participate in the high-level programme on behalf of the President.
The 81st General Assembly will now proceed with Nigeria represented by the Vice President, while the political debate over Tinubu's decision not to attend personally continues at home.
