‘Who Is in Charge of Nigeria?’ — Atiku Questions Tinubu’s Extended Vacation

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has questioned who is constitutionally exercising presidential authority in Nigeria following the expiration of the three-week vacation announced for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for what the Presidency described as a three-week working vacation in Europe.

The Presidency announced on Monday that the President had extended his stay by a few days and would return to Nigeria at the weekend.

However, in a statement titled “Who is in Charge of Nigeria?”, Atiku raised questions over the constitutional arrangements governing the President’s absence.

He cited Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for a President proceeding on vacation 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 the President as Acting President.

Atiku said Nigerians had not been shown any such communication transferring presidential authority to Vice President Kashim Shettima.

“Twenty-one days have come and gone since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu left Nigeria on what the Presidency described as a three-week annual vacation,” Atiku said.

“Today, Nigerians are entitled to ask a very simple constitutional question: Who is in charge of Nigeria?”

According to Atiku, where the required declaration is not transmitted within 21 days, Section 145(2) provides for the National Assembly to mandate the Vice President to perform the functions of the President as Acting President.

He therefore challenged the Presidency to publish the letter if it exists and called on the National Assembly to explain why the constitutional procedure had not been activated if no declaration was transmitted.

“If such a letter exists, the Presidency should publish it immediately,” he said.

The ADC presidential candidate also raised concerns over the simultaneous absence of Tinubu and Shettima, with the Vice President currently in New York representing Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

“So again: who is exercising presidential authority in Nigeria today, and under what constitutional instrument?” Atiku asked.

He described the issue as one of “constitutional order” rather than political convenience, arguing that the affairs of the country should not be conducted through informal arrangements.

“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,” he said.

Atiku also cited the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody in Minna and rising petrol prices as developments occurring while the President remains abroad.

“These are not ordinary times. Yet the President is abroad. The Vice President is abroad. The Senate President is abroad,” he said.

He called on the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to confirm whether they received any communication from Tinubu under Section 145(1).

Atiku also urged the National Assembly to explain its position if no declaration was transmitted within the constitutionally stipulated period.

“Nigeria is bigger than any President. 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 said.

“The question will not disappear: Who, constitutionally, is in charge of Nigeria?”