Tinubu’s 21-Day Absence: Atiku Demands Clarity on Presidential Authority
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has questioned who is constitutionally exercising presidential powers in Nigeria, following President Bola Tinubu’s prolonged absence from the country.
Atiku, in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, urged the Presidency and the National Assembly to clarify whether Tinubu transmitted a formal declaration transferring presidential authority to Vice President Kashim Shettima before embarking on his foreign trip.
The former Vice President said Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for what the Presidency described as a three-week annual vacation, adding that the constitutionally stipulated 21-day period had elapsed without the public being shown any formal communication transferring presidential functions to Shettima.
He cited Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that when the President proceeds on vacation, he is required to transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, enabling the Vice President to perform the functions of President in an acting capacity.
Atiku further noted that Section 145(2) empowers the National Assembly, through a simple majority of both chambers, to mandate the Vice President to perform the functions of President if the required declaration is not transmitted within 21 days.
“Today, Nigerians are entitled to ask a very simple constitutional question: Who is in charge of Nigeria?” he asked.
The former Vice President challenged the Presidency to publish the purported constitutional letter if it exists, arguing that failure to do so would raise questions about compliance with the constitutional succession procedure.
“If such a letter exists, the Presidency should publish it immediately,” Atiku said.
He also expressed concern that Shettima was currently in New York representing Nigeria at the United Nations General Assembly, while Senate President Godswill Akpabio was also reportedly outside the country.
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According to him, the simultaneous absence of the President, Vice President and Senate President raises questions about the identity of the official exercising presidential authority.
Atiku linked the issue to recent national challenges, including the reported deaths of 37 Nigerians in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna, Niger State, as well as rising petrol prices, which he said had reached ₦1,500 per litre in parts of the country.
“These are not ordinary times. Yet the President is abroad. The Vice President is abroad. The Senate President is abroad. And Nigerians have not been told, in the clear constitutional language required of a serious democracy, who is exercising the powers of the President,” he said.
He criticised the notion that presidential duties could be managed through informal arrangements while the President remained abroad.
“Nigeria cannot be governed by assumptions. It cannot be governed by presidential social-media posts from Europe. It cannot be governed by photographs from private dinners at the Élysée Palace. It cannot be governed on autopilot,” Atiku stated.
The ADC candidate urged the Presidency to disclose whether Tinubu transmitted the declaration contemplated under Section 145(1), while calling on the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives to confirm whether they received such communication.
He further demanded an explanation from the National Assembly on why the procedure under Section 145(2) had not been activated if no declaration was transmitted within the stipulated period.
“President Tinubu’s private dinner with President Emmanuel Macron in Paris may serve diplomatic purposes. But Nigeria itself cannot be placed on vacation,” Atiku said.
He maintained that the constitutional procedure for presidential succession must be respected, irrespective of political considerations.
“At a time of severe economic hardship, rising energy costs, security challenges and the shocking deaths of citizens in government custody, the country deserves visible, accountable and constitutionally grounded leadership,” he added.
Atiku concluded by insisting that the question of who is constitutionally in charge of Nigeria would remain relevant until the Presidency and National Assembly provided clarification.
By PRNigeria
