The African Democratic Congress has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for remaining in Paris while French President Emmanuel Macron travelled to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
ADC spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi said the situation was a national embarrassment. He argued that world leaders were in New York promoting their countries’ interests while Nigeria’s president remained in Paris after his host had left for the same global meeting.
The president had been expected to attend the United Nations gathering in New York. Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States had earlier indicated that Tinubu would attend the meeting and sit with United States President Donald Trump.
However, Tinubu did not travel to New York and instead remained in France as the UN gathering got underway.
This is the third consecutive year Tinubu has not attended the annual United Nations gathering in person since taking office. He attended the gathering in 2023, but Vice President Kashim Shettima has represented him at the event in the two subsequent years.
Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for a working vacation that began in London before continuing in Paris. The Presidency later announced that the trip had been extended by a few days and that the president was expected to return to Nigeria this weekend.
Vice President Kashim Shettima is leading Nigeria’s delegation at this year’s UN gathering. His appearance at the event means he is again representing the president at one of the world’s major diplomatic meetings.
The ADC also raised questions over the length of Tinubu’s absence from the country, saying the president had now been away for more than 21 days. The party questioned whether Tinubu had submitted the written notice required under Section 145 of the Nigerian Constitution before the vice president could formally act in his place.
The party further criticised the fact that both Tinubu and Shettima were outside Nigeria at the same time, pointing to insecurity, unemployment and the rising cost of living as major problems facing Nigerians at home.
The Presidency has maintained that government business has continued despite Tinubu’s trip. Officials said the president had remained in contact with government officials in Abuja, while Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume had been representing him at some events.
Government officials have also said Nigeria is fully represented in New York through the delegation led by Shettima.
The dispute has been sharpened by Tinubu’s recent engagement with Macron. The French president hosted Tinubu to a private dinner in Paris earlier this month before travelling to New York for the UN General Assembly, while Tinubu remained in France.
Opposition groups have seized on the contrast, arguing that the situation could be difficult to explain to Nigerians at a time when the country faces serious economic and security challenges.
The controversy has also brought renewed attention to questions surrounding Tinubu’s international engagements, including reports and public discussions about records linked to a United States drug investigation.
The issue has continued to attract attention alongside questions about the president’s international travel and his absence from the UN gathering.
Tinubu’s decision not to attend the annual meeting in person has therefore become a fresh point of political debate, with the ADC questioning his priorities while the Presidency maintains that government functions and Nigeria’s representation at the international gathering have continued.
