The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has raised concerns over the extended absence of President Bola Tinubu from the country, following the expiration of his official three-week vacation.
In a statement released by his media office, Atiku questioned the reasons behind the President's prolonged stay in Paris, France, noting that the country continues to face pressing security, economic, and cost-of-living challenges. He contrasted this with international leaders, such as French President Emmanuel Macron, who attend to global engagements and return promptly to their home countries.
Atiku drew attention to Section 145(2) of the Nigerian Constitution, which stipulates that if a president fails to transmit a formal declaration regarding a vacation or medical leave within 21 days, the National Assembly shall, by a simple majority in each House, empower the Vice-President to assume executive functions. According to the statement, President Tinubu has now been away for 28 days, exceeding the 21-day threshold by a week.
Outlining the timeline, Atiku noted that the President initially departed Nigeria on August 30 for a scheduled three-week annual leave, which has since been extended past multiple expected return dates.
The statement called on the Presidency, the Senate President, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives to transparently publish the formal transmission letter if it exists. It added that if no such communication has been made, the public deserves a clear explanation as to why constitutional procedures are not being strictly followed, while dismissing concerns that members of the inner circle might be hesitant to hand acting authority to Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
To reinforce his point, Atiku referenced past precedent, recalling that former President Muhammadu Buhari formally transferred presidential responsibilities to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on five separate occasions during his tenure through official communications directed to the National Assembly.