President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s extended trip abroad has sparked concerns regarding constitutional requirements that mandate him to hand over power to the Vice President if he is out of the country for more than 21 days or unable to perform his duties.
Originally due back in Nigeria on September 20, the President extended his “working vacation” by a week, with the presidency announcing he would return over the weekend. However, he did not arrive as expected, leading to heightened scrutiny over his absence.
The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has called for legal clarification on Tinubu’s prolonged overseas stay, asserting that citizens can challenge perceived constitutional violations.
Dr Dauda Garuba, Director of CDD-West Africa, stated while the president has the right to extend his travels, he must adhere to constitutional provisions regarding the duration of his absence.
While Daily Trust could not confirm the exact reasons for Tinubu’s delayed return, sources suggested it was merely a change of travel plans. In response to the concerns, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, stated on social media that the president is in good health and can fulfil his duties without being physically present in Abuja.
Onanuga highlighted Tinubu’s ongoing engagement with investors in France, securing a $7 billion deep-sea port project in Ogun State. He also noted that other prominent African leaders like South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa were absent from the UN General Assembly, implying that such absences are not unique to Nigeria.
Despite Onanuga’s assurances, critics, including former House of Representatives member Mark Gbillah, argue the National Assembly should activate Section 145(2) of the Constitution, allowing the Vice President to step in if Tinubu fails to return by the time lawmakers reconvene. Gbillah insists the president’s absence raises significant constitutional issues and must not be downplayed as merely a “working vacation.”
Concerns have also been voiced about the implications of both the president and Vice President Kashim Shettima being out of the country simultaneously. Gbillah insists this situation requires clarity on who is exercising presidential authority in their absence.
Public figures including the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, have demanded transparency regarding Tinubu’s whereabouts, especially given Nigeria’s pressing economic and security challenges. Obi underscored the significance of having a clear leadership presence on the global stage.
An Abuja-based lawyer, Barrister Abdurrahman Salis, agreed that just because both leaders are abroad doesn’t create a constitutional vacuum, provided they can still perform their duties remotely. However, he acknowledged that the situation could differ if the president were solely on holiday.
As of now, President Tinubu’s absence and failure to officially delegate his responsibilities have raised doubts about governance continuity in Nigeria.
