President Bola Tinubu departed Abuja on Sunday for a three-week vacation in Europe as part of his annual leave, the presidency announced, with his return timed to coincide with intensified campaigning for the January 2027 general elections.
Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga said in a statement that Tinubu’s first stop would be London.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja today for Europe to begin a three-week vacation as part of his annual leave. His first stop will be London, United Kingdom,” Onanuga said.
He added that the president is expected to return home after the working vacation “to join the hectic campaign for the January 2027 election.”
The departure comes days after Vice President Kashim Shettima resumed official duties following a two-week leave that began on August 6. Shettima returned two days ahead of schedule.
Tinubu’s absence is his third annual leave since taking office in May 2023. Previous breaks included a 10-working-day trip to France and the United Kingdom in September 2025 and a two-week stay in the United Kingdom in October 2024, both described by the presidency as working vacations.
Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications Sunday Dare said the break would allow the president to “refuel” after months of intense engagement with state matters.
“The President has had several months—six, seven months—of being engaged with state matters. We’ve seen monumental changes, monumental decisions taken with our security, with our economy,” Dare told reporters.
He noted that the campaign season had just begun and would involve four to five months of serious activity, while governance continues. Tinubu would remain engaged with state matters daily, receiving briefings from ministers and service chiefs, Dare added.
The Independent National Electoral Commission opened the official campaign period for the presidential and National Assembly elections on August 19. Those polls are scheduled for January 16, 2027, with governorship and state assembly elections set for February 6.
The presidency provided no further details of Tinubu’s itinerary beyond London as the initial destination.
