Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign, has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s decision to stay away from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Okonkwo alleged that Tinubu may have avoided the international gathering because of concerns about possible action by U.S. authorities.
Okonkwo particularly criticised presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga and argued that the President should have personally attended the UNGA.
According to recent reports, Vice President Kashim Shettima is representing Nigeria at the 81st session, marking the third consecutive year Tinubu has delegated the responsibility to his deputy. Tinubu attended the 78th UNGA in 2023 but did not attend in person in 2024 and 2025.
Okonkwo described the President’s continued absence as suspicious and claimed that he could be trying to avoid the United States.
He also referenced comments previously made by Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim. Ibrahim had said Tinubu could travel to the United States for the UNGA without facing arrest or restrictions.
In a statement issued earlier this month, Ibrahim said neither Tinubu nor members of his family faced U.S. movement restrictions and cited provisions of the UN-U.S. headquarters agreement concerning access to the United Nations district.
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Okonkwo, however, connected the President’s absence to renewed public interest in old U.S. records concerning him.
The ADC spokesperson referred to the forfeiture of $460,000 linked to a 1993 U.S. case involving accounts associated with Tinubu. A U.S. court record documents the forfeiture, while more recent reporting has highlighted efforts to obtain additional records from U.S. agencies.
A separate legal dispute is currently focused on whether certain U.S. government records relating to historical investigations involving Tinubu should be released. Tinubu has challenged the release of the records.
Okonkwo argued that the circumstances warranted questions about why Tinubu did not attend the UNGA personally.
The allegation that Tinubu is avoiding the United States because he fears arrest has not been established by the available evidence. Officials have instead stated that the President has no known U.S. travel restriction preventing him from attending the UNGA.
The debate over Tinubu’s absence continues as Nigeria is represented at the UN gathering by Vice President Shettima.