Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed concerns over President Bola Tinubu’s continued absence from Nigeria, insisting that there is no vacancy in the Presidency and that the President remains in charge of the country.
Akpabio spoke on Tuesday in Akwa Ibom State, amid renewed debate over Tinubu’s extended stay in Europe and the simultaneous absence of Vice President Kashim Shettima, who is currently in New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
Rejecting suggestions that he was acting President, Akpabio said Tinubu was on a working leave and continued to direct government affairs from abroad.
“By your grace, the grace of God, and the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I am not the acting president. Because the President is still in power,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President said those raising concerns over a possible leadership vacuum were speculating, insisting that Tinubu remained the country’s sitting President.
“There is no vacancy. People who are talking are just talking,” he said.
Akpabio also argued that technological advancement had made it possible for Tinubu to continue supervising government affairs while outside the country.
“Nigeria has become—the world has become a global village. You can give instructions even from the internet, anything. So why are people complaining?” he said.
He added that Tinubu remained in contact with officials in Nigeria and would return to commission presidential projects, although he declined to disclose details.
The comments followed the Presidency’s announcement on Monday that Tinubu had extended his working vacation in Europe by a few days and was expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend.
Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for London before travelling to Paris, France, where he met French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
The Presidency said the President had remained in touch with developments at home and continued directing government affairs while abroad.
Among the actions attributed to him during the period was an order for an independent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna, Niger State.
While Tinubu remained abroad, Vice President Kashim Shettima represented him at several official engagements. Shettima left Nigeria on September 20 for New York to represent the President at the United Nations General Assembly.
His absence from Nigeria has nevertheless generated renewed political and constitutional questions, particularly because both the President and Vice President are currently outside the country.
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has questioned who is exercising presidential authority, citing Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution.
The provision states that when the President proceeds on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of office, he shall transmit a written declaration to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives. Until a contrary declaration is transmitted, the Vice President performs the functions of the President as Acting President.
Section 145 also provides a procedure under which the National Assembly can mandate the Vice President to act if the President fails to transmit the required declaration within 21 days.
Atiku has questioned whether such a declaration was transmitted in relation to Tinubu’s current absence, while the Presidency has maintained that the President remains capable of exercising his constitutional powers from abroad.
Akpabio’s remarks on Tuesday add the Senate leadership’s voice to the Presidency’s position that there is no leadership vacuum and that Tinubu remains in charge while completing his extended working vacation.
