The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised questions about President Bola Tinubu’s continued absence from Nigeria at a time when Vice President Kashim Shettima is also outside the country. The party has called on the Presidency and the National Assembly to clarify who is currently exercising the president’s constitutional powers.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC noted that President Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 and has been away for more than 21 days.
The party referenced Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). That section requires the president to transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives when proceeding on vacation or otherwise unable to discharge the functions of the office. It further provides that if no such declaration is transmitted within 21 days, the National Assembly may, by resolution, direct the Vice President to perform the functions of the President as Acting President.
The ADC asked whether the required declaration was transmitted and, if not, why the National Assembly had not invoked the constitutional provision.
The party also responded to the Presidency’s description of the trip as a “working vacation,” under which the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has represented the president at official engagements. According to the ADC, attending events or delivering speeches on the president’s behalf does not constitute the exercise of the constitutional powers of the President or Acting President.
The statement comes while Vice President Shettima is in New York representing Nigeria at the United Nations General Assembly and President Tinubu remains in Paris as part of the extended working vacation. The ADC described the simultaneous absence of both the president and vice president as particularly concerning in light of ongoing national challenges, including insecurity, unemployment, and the cost of living.
The party called on the Presidency and the National Assembly to state clearly who is currently exercising the constitutional powers of the president and under which provision of the Constitution.
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