President Bola Tinubu may have shelved his planned attendance at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, with Vice President Kashim Shettima expected to represent Nigeria at the global event.
The development emerged on Thursday amid indications that security concerns over a planned protest by some Nigerians in the United States may have influenced the reported change in the president’s itinerary.
Tinubu was scheduled to travel to New York between September 22 and 28, 2026, and address world leaders on Wednesday, September 23, as part of the UNGA’s high-level segment.
A security source, who spoke with NewsNGR on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the president had cancelled the planned trip, citing intelligence reports about plans by some Nigerians in New York to protest against and heckle the Nigerian leader.
According to the source, the planned demonstration was linked to ongoing efforts in the United States to secure the release of records relating to Tinubu’s activities in Chicago in the early 1990s.
The source alleged that opposition elements in Nigeria were working to mobilise Nigerians in the US for the protest.
The development is coming amid a legal battle involving the Washington-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., which was engaged by former Vice President and 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar.
The firm has been pursuing the release of records allegedly held by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the US Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) relating to Tinubu’s time in the United States.
Atiku reportedly engaged the firm in March 2026 to facilitate the public release of the records.
The controversy escalated after the lobbying firm alleged that persons linked to the Nigerian President attempted to bribe one of its senior officials with $3m in connection with the matter. The presidency has not publicly responded to the allegation.
The firm had also claimed that communications relating to the alleged bribery attempt were documented and preserved, and that copies had been shared with US President Donald Trump, senior American officials and members of Congress.
Adding a new dimension to the controversy was Trump’s appointment on Thursday of the lobbying firm’s Managing Partner, Dr Karl Von Batten, as a commissioner on a White House presidential commission.
Announcing the appointment on its verified X account, Von Batten-Montague-York said the appointment reflected Von Batten’s “longstanding commitment to public service, leadership” and the United States.
The firm said Von Batten was grateful to Trump for the confidence reposed in him and looked forward to serving the President and the country.
A presidential commission in the US is generally constituted by the President to investigate, study or advise on specific national issues, with members typically appointed to carry out defined mandates and submit findings or recommendations to the President.
Tinubu’s reported decision to stay away from the UNGA would mean that Shettima could lead Nigeria’s delegation to the annual gathering, which brings together world leaders and senior government officials from across the globe.
