Atiku Attacks Tinubu Over Three-Year UNGA Absence Pattern

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Tinubu's three-year streak of non-attendance at the United Nations General Assembly. Through a Sunday statement released by communications aide Phrank Shaibu, Atiku pointed out that the President bypassed the 79th session in 2024, skipped the 80th in 2025, and absented himself from the 81st in 2026—on all three occasions dispatching Vice President Kashim Shettima to serve as Nigeria's representative.

Atiku characterized this pattern of absences as calculated rather than ordinary diplomacy, contending that Nigerians shoulder both economic and diplomatic burdens stemming from their chief executive's failure to participate in this pivotal global meeting. He pressed for a forthright explanation from the President, raising doubts about what concealed circumstances might be preventing Tinubu from joining other world leaders at these consequential international forums held annually in New York.

A key question posed by Atiku centers on Tinubu's prior encounters with United States law enforcement authorities, notably a 1993 forfeiture matter involving narcotics and American agencies. The former Vice President asked whether such legal entanglements might be hampering relations between Nigeria and its foreign partners or restricting the President's capacity to travel to American soil, where the UNGA convenes each year.

This criticism reflects deeper partisan tensions, with Atiku presenting himself as a guardian of Nigeria's standing on the world stage. Though Vice President Shettima has repeatedly stepped in to represent the nation at these yearly gatherings, Atiku maintains that a President attending in person brings gravitas and demonstrates Nigeria's commitment to participating meaningfully in international affairs.

To date, the Presidency has offered no public reply to these contentions.