Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has demanded an explanation from President Bola Tinubu over his third consecutive absence from the United Nations General Assembly, questioning whether issues surrounding the President’s history with United States authorities have affected Nigeria’s foreign relations.

His comments followed Sunday’s announcement by the Presidency that Tinubu had mandated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him and lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said Tinubu was absent from the 79th UNGA in 2024 and the 80th in 2025, with Shettima representing him on both occasions.

He said Shettima would again lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st session in 2026, arguing that the pattern could no longer be dismissed as routine delegation.

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