Sowore Questions Tinubu’s Absence From UNGA, Alleges President Is Receiving Treatment in France

African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, alleging that the President is receiving medical treatment in France.

Sowore made the claims in a post on X while reacting to Tinubu’s decision not to personally attend the UN General Assembly, where Vice President Kashim Shettima is leading Nigeria’s delegation.

The Presidency has described Tinubu’s European trip as an annual leave and working vacation. Official statements also show that the President held engagements in Paris, including a meeting with businessman Vincent Bolloré and a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron on September 18.

However, Sowore disputed the official explanation, alleging that Tinubu was receiving treatment in France rather than simply taking a vacation.

“There is something inherently wrong with Nigeria,” Sowore wrote, before questioning what he described as the President’s activities in Paris and his absence from the UN General Assembly.

Sowore also alleged that Tinubu’s decision not to attend the UN gathering was connected to what he described as fears that the United States government could order his arrest over what he referred to as a past drug-dealing case.

He did not provide evidence in his post establishing that Tinubu is currently receiving medical treatment in France or that U.S. authorities plan to arrest the President.

The allegation about a possible U.S. arrest has previously been disputed. Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, said the Nigerian mission had received no notification from the U.S. government indicating restrictions on Tinubu and argued that representatives attending UN activities have protections under the UN-U.S. Headquarters Agreement.

Sowore further criticised supporters of the administration, accusing them of accepting what he described as a lack of transparency surrounding the President’s activities.

He compared the situation with controversies surrounding the overseas medical treatment of former presidents Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Muhammadu Buhari, alleging that Nigeria had previously witnessed secrecy and carefully managed public appearances around presidential health matters.

The Presidency has not publicly stated that Tinubu is receiving medical treatment in France. Its recent official statements have instead described his activities in Paris as part of his working vacation.

Sowore concluded his post by calling for what he described as freedom from the practices and mentality that, in his view, sustain the current political system.

The comments come as Nigeria prepares for the high-level segment of the 81st UN General Assembly, with Vice President Shettima representing the country at the gathering in New York.