Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed calls for President Bola Tinubu to formally hand over presidential powers to Vice President Kashim Shettima, insisting that there is no leadership vacuum despite the President’s continued stay abroad.
Akpabio spoke on Tuesday in Akwa Ibom State while commissioning road projects executed by Governor Umo Eno.
The Senate President said Tinubu remained in office and continued to perform his constitutional responsibilities despite being outside Nigeria on an extended working vacation.
“I am the Senate President, and I am not the acting President of Nigeria, because President Tinubu is still in power.
“He is on a working leave, and there is no absence in Aso Rock. The world is a global village, and one can give instructions over the internet. So, why are people complaining?” Akpabio said.
He maintained that there was currently no vacancy in the presidency and that Tinubu remained responsible for running the affairs of the country.
“Right now, there is no vacancy. Asiwaju Tinubu is still in power, and he is still running the affairs of Nigeria,” he added.
Akpabio pointed to Tinubu’s recent diplomatic engagements as evidence that the President remained active in governance while abroad. The State House has reported that Tinubu held talks with French businessman Vincent Bolloré in Paris on September 18 and continued issuing official directives during his working vacation.
The Presidency announced on September 21 that Tinubu had extended his working vacation by a few days and would return to Nigeria at the weekend. Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for what was initially announced as a three-week annual leave.
The issue has generated renewed political and legal debate because Shettima is also currently outside Nigeria, having travelled to New York on September 20 to represent Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has questioned the arrangement, citing Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for the President to transmit a written declaration to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives when proceeding on vacation or otherwise unable to discharge the functions of office.
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has also argued that the simultaneous absence of Tinubu and Shettima raises constitutional questions, particularly regarding the procedure for transferring presidential functions under Section 145. His position is a legal interpretation and has not been established by a court ruling.
The Federal Government, meanwhile, has said Shettima is representing Tinubu at the UNGA with a full presidential mandate and will deliver Nigeria’s national statement and participate in high-level engagements.
The Presidency has not publicly released any written declaration under Section 145 in connection with Tinubu’s current working vacation. The absence of a publicly released document, however, does not by itself establish whether such a declaration was or was not transmitted.
Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend, according to the Presidency’s latest announcement.
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