The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has slammed the simultaneous absence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima from the country, labeling the situation a dangerous disregard for Nigeria’s grundnorm.
In a statement signed by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, the opposition party noted that Section 145 of the Constitution mandates the President to transmit a written declaration to the National Assembly whenever he goes on vacation for more than 21 days to allow the Vice-President to assume the role of Acting President.
Questions Over 21-Day Threshold
The party pointed out that the President left the country on August 30, surpassing the 3-week window required for constitutional transmission of power.
“President Tinubu left Nigeria on 30 August and has now been away for more than 21 days. We therefore demand to know whether the required declaration was transmitted by the President. If he did not, we would like to know why the National Assembly has ignored Section 145 of the Constitution,” the ADC said.
“Representation Is Not Governance”
Dismissing arguments from the Presidency that the President is on a “working vacation” and that Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, can represent him at official functions, the party insisted that ceremonial presence does not equal executive power.
“Representing the President at events and ceremonies does not confer constitutional powers. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation is a mere appointee of the President. He may attend events or deliver speeches on the President’s behalf, but he cannot exercise the constitutional powers of the President or Acting President,” the party said.
“Representation is not governance. Attendance at official functions is not presidential authority. Nigeria cannot be governed through ceremonial proxies, telephone calls and press statements issued from foreign capitals.”
The party rejected the concept of a “working vacation” to bypass constitutional procedures, adding that governance cannot be handled remotely while citizens endure an unbearable cost-of-living crisis, worsening insecurity, and high unemployment.
“There is no constitutional category known as a ‘working vacation’. Presidential authority cannot be transferred by convenience, protocol or press statement. Nigeria is a constitutional democracy, not a private enterprise to be managed remotely from a holiday destination.”
Contrast at the UN General Assembly
The ADC further highlighted what it termed a “national disgrace,” contrasting President Tinubu’s stay in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron’s presence at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“The irony would be amusing if it were not a national disgrace. At a time when world leaders are advancing their countries’ interests at the United Nations General Assembly, Nigeria’s President is holed up in the French capital while his host has left to pursue his own country’s national interest.
“President Tinubu cannot be vacationing in Paris while President Macron is in New York representing France and expect Nigerians to accept that it is okay for their President to continue to hang around in a country after the host has left to attend to more important things. This is not merely poor optics. It is a national embarrassment.”
The opposition party concluded by demanding immediate clarity from both the Presidency and the National Assembly regarding who currently holds executive powers in the country.
“Who presently exercises the constitutional powers of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and under what provision of the Constitution?”
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