Political Storm Brews as Tinubu's 21-Day Absence Sparks Public Outcry and Government Clarification
Atiku Abubakar, the 2027 presidential candidate for the ADC, has criticized President Bola Tinubu over his 21-day absence from Nigeria, citing Section 145 of the Constitution. Atiku highlighted the lack of a formal transmission of presidential authority to Vice President Kashim Shettima, despite constitutional requirements for such a declaration during presidential vacations.
The 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has voiced strong criticism against President Bola Tinubu regarding his prolonged 21-day absence from Nigeria. In a statement titled “Who is in charge of Nigeria?”, Atiku highlighted Section 145 of the Nigerian Constitution, which outlines the procedure for the transfer of presidential functions when the President is on vacation.
Atiku, a former vice president, emphasized that the Constitution explicitly requires the President to transmit a written declaration to both the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. This declaration formally designates the Vice President to perform the functions of the President as Acting President. However, Atiku pointed out that more than 21 days after President Tinubu departed the country on August 30, no such letter transmitting presidential authority to Vice President Kashim Shettima had been publicly disclosed to Nigerians.
Further elaborating on the constitutional provisions, Atiku stated, “Section 145 of the Constitution is not ambiguous about presidential vacations. It provides that whenever the President proceeds on vacation, he shall transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, whereupon the Vice President performs the functions of President as Acting President.” He added a crucial safeguard: “And where the President fails to transmit that declaration within 21 days, the Constitution provides a further safeguard: the National Assembly shall, by a simple majority of each House, mandate the Vice President to perform the functions of President as Acting President.”
President Tinubu had initially left Nigeria on August 30 for Europe to commence a three-week annual leave. However, the Presidency announced on September 21 that he had extended his working vacation by a few days and was expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend, further prolonging the period without a clear formal transmission of power as per constitutional requirements.