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The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council has asked the Presidency to explain President Bola Tinubu’s continued absence from Nigeria, six days after the expiration of his initially announced three-week vacation.
The ADC made the demand in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, saying the President had remained outside the country as of September 27, despite the Presidency earlier announcing that he would return at the weekend.
Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for London before travelling to Paris, France, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
During his absence, Vice President Kashim Shettima represented him at several official engagements before travelling to New York on September 20 to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The ADC said the Presidency should provide Nigerians with clear and verifiable information about the President’s current location, the reason for the extension of his stay abroad and the constitutional arrangements governing the country during his absence.
According to the opposition party, the continued absence of the President without sufficient public information had generated questions about the exercise of executive authority.
The party also questioned the reported decision to extend Tinubu’s vacation and the continued representation of the President at official functions by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
The ADC argued that while government officials could represent the President at events and ceremonies, Nigerians deserved clarification on who was constitutionally exercising presidential powers while Tinubu remained outside the country.
The party further called for transparency over the status of the President’s vacation, particularly because the period initially communicated to Nigerians had elapsed.
The development comes amid an ongoing debate over the constitutional implications of the President’s prolonged absence.
Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution provides for a President proceeding on vacation or otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office to transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, after which the Vice-President performs the functions of President as Acting President.
The ADC had previously raised questions over whether the required constitutional procedure had been followed.
However, the Presidency has maintained that Tinubu remains in charge of the country and has continued to perform his duties while abroad.
In a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said Tinubu was “hale and hearty” and was entitled to take a working vacation.
It also argued that modern technology allows the President to direct government affairs without being physically present in Abuja. The Presidency cited Tinubu’s meetings with investors and other engagements in France as evidence that he had remained active in his official capacity.
The Presidency had earlier announced that Tinubu extended his working vacation by a few days and was expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend. It said he had remained in contact with developments at home and continued to issue directives while abroad.
The President’s absence also coincided with the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Vice President Shettima represented Nigeria and delivered the country’s national statement.
Shettima has since returned to Nigeria after leading the Nigerian delegation to the UN General Assembly.
The ADC is now demanding that the Presidency provide Nigerians with further clarification on the extension of Tinubu’s stay abroad and the constitutional arrangements governing the exercise of presidential authority.
The party warned that continued lack of information could fuel further questions and public concern over the President’s prolonged absence.
