Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday rejected suggestions that President Bola Tinubu should temporarily hand over power, insisting the president remains fully in charge despite an extended working vacation.
Speaking in Akwa Ibom State, Akpabio addressed growing calls for Tinubu to transfer authority to Vice President Kashim Shettima after a three-week working leave that was prolonged by several days.
“I am the Senate President and not the acting President of Nigeria because President Tinubu is still in power,” Akpabio said. “He’s on a working leave, and there’s no absence in Aso Rock. He was with French President Macron the other day.”
Akpabio stressed that only he holds the constitutional authority to declare a vacancy in the presidency. “I am the only person who can declare a vacancy and there will be vacancy. Right now, there is no vacancy,” he stated.
He maintained that Tinubu continues to discharge his duties remotely. “Asiwaju Tinubu is still in power, and he’s still running the affairs of Nigeria,” Akpabio said. “The world is a global village, you can give instructions from the internet. So why are people complaining?”
Akpabio clarified that there is no leadership vacuum and that President Bola Tinubu remains fully in charge on a working leave. Under Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, formal transfer of power requires written transmission to the National Assembly, but Akpabio emphasized that technology allows the President to direct state affairs remotely, meaning no official vacancy or invocation of acting leadership is necessary.
What Does The Constitution Actually Says?
Under Section 145 of the Nigerian Constitution, the transfer of power isn’t triggered by a specific number of days, but rather by a written declaration sent to the National Assembly before the president goes on vacation or leave.
If the president is absent for more than 21 days without formally transmitting power, Section 145(2) of the Constitution allows the National Assembly to pass a simple majority resolution empowering Vice President Shettima to step in as Acting President.
Regarding Vice President Shettima also being out of the country—attending United Nations General Assembly at New York, the Constitution doesn’t actually forbid both leaders from traveling simultaneously.
However, because the presidency maintains that President Tinubu is still actively governing remotely, power hasn’t been formally transferred, which is currently driving the public debate on who is legally in charge.
