The spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign, Kenneth Okonkwo, has alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is avoiding attendance at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) because of concerns about possible arrest in the United States.
Okonkwo made the claim during an interview on Arise News on Wednesday, where he criticized the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, and questioned Tinubu’s absence from the UN General Assembly.
The ADC campaign spokesperson suggested that Tinubu’s failure to attend the international gathering in person had raised questions about his reasons for staying away. He also referenced the so-called “Venezuela option,” linking his argument to US President Donald Trump’s reported stance on drug trafficking and the legal controversies surrounding Venezuela.
Okonkwo Questions Tinubu’s Absence From UN General Assembly
During the interview, Okonkwo questioned why President Tinubu had not attended the UN General Assembly in person for three consecutive years. He argued that the President’s absence could lead observers to believe that he was avoiding the United States.
The ADC campaign spokesperson also referred to earlier comments attributed to Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, who had reportedly indicated that Tinubu would attend the 81st UNGA and sit alongside US President Donald Trump.
However, Tinubu did not attend the gathering, with Vice President Kashim Shettima representing Nigeria at the 2026 session. Reports indicate that Tinubu attended the 78th UNGA in 2023 but was represented by Shettima in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Reference to Tinubu’s US Legal Records
Okonkwo further connected the President’s absence from the UNGA to renewed discussions about historical legal records in the United States involving Tinubu.
He referred to a civil forfeiture matter involving approximately $460,000 and alleged that it was linked to narcotics-related concerns. He also questioned why legal proceedings had been initiated concerning the release of records relating to the President.
The allegations form part of a wider political debate about Tinubu’s historical US legal records. Reports have documented the forfeiture proceedings, while the claim that the President avoided UNGA because of a fear of arrest remains an allegation and has not been established as the reason for his absence.
