Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has claimed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is receiving medical treatment in France rather than being on the three-week annual leave and working vacation announced by the Presidency.
Sowore made the claim in a post on X on Sunday, September 20, 2026, while reacting to Tinubu’s decision not to personally attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The Presidency announced on Sunday that Vice President Kashim Shettima would represent Tinubu and lead Nigeria’s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
According to the Presidency, Shettima will lead a high-level delegation comprising Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, ministers and other senior government officials. He is also expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement and participate in high-level meetings and bilateral engagements during the General Assembly.
Tinubu had departed Abuja on August 30 for a three-week annual leave in Europe, with London as his first destination before proceeding to France. The Presidency has maintained that the trip is an annual leave and working vacation.
Sowore, however, disputed the official explanation, alleging that Tinubu is receiving medical treatment in France and that his decision to stay away from the United Nations gathering is connected to what he described as the President’s “mortal fear” that the United States government could order his arrest over what he referred to as Tinubu’s past drug-related case.
“There is something inherently wrong with Nigeria,” Sowore wrote.
He alleged that Tinubu’s absence from the United Nations General Assembly was connected to concerns about possible action against him in the United States.
“Tinubu is not on vacation; he is receiving treatment in France, and they will package him to return as though nothing happened,” Sowore alleged.
The activist also criticised supporters of the administration, accusing them of ignoring what he described as the circumstances surrounding Tinubu’s absence.
“Every sycophant is playing along, and society has acquiesced completely,” he said.
Sowore further compared the situation with the controversies that surrounded the overseas medical trips of former Presidents Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Muhammadu Buhari, alleging that Nigeria had witnessed similar patterns of secrecy, carefully managed appearances and limited public information concerning presidential health.
He called on Nigerians to reject what he described as political “machinations” and the mentality that allows such practices to continue.
The claims by Sowore have not been independently established. The Presidency’s official explanation is that Tinubu is in France on annual leave, while Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, said the President would not personally attend the General Assembly because he is currently in France on annual leave.
The Presidency has also rejected the suggestion that Tinubu’s absence from the United States is connected to any restriction on his travel to the country. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Osodi, said Tinubu’s absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly would not diminish Nigeria’s diplomatic standing or its role in African affairs.
Tinubu’s absence means Shettima will represent him at the General Assembly for the third consecutive year. Tinubu attended the 78th United Nations General Assembly personally in 2023, while Shettima represented him at the 79th and 80th sessions in 2024 and 2025.
The development has also generated political reactions. Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, questioned Tinubu’s decision to stay away from the gathering and demanded an explanation for his repeated absence. Atiku argued that although the Vice President could represent Nigeria, the United Nations General Assembly provides heads of government with opportunities for high-level diplomatic meetings, investment discussions and international engagements.
The 81st United Nations General Assembly’s General Debate is scheduled to run from September 22 to 28, 2026, with Shettima expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement.
As the controversy continues, the Presidency maintains that Tinubu’s absence is due to his ongoing annual leave in France, while Sowore continues to allege that the President is undergoing medical treatment and that concerns over possible legal action in the United States influenced his decision not to attend the gathering personally.