President Bola Tinubu has changed his travel plans, with sources indicating that his return to Nigeria may now take place on Tuesday. Initially, Tinubu was expected to return to the country on Sunday after spending several weeks in Europe on a working vacation. The presidency had described the trip as a working vacation, and Tinubu was to join preparations for the January 2027 election upon his return.
The latest adjustment means Tinubu's absence from Nigeria has lasted considerably longer than the three-week vacation initially announced by the presidency. His extended stay has generated a constitutional debate, particularly over the provisions governing the temporary absence of a president. According to Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, the president must transmit a written declaration to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives when proceeding on vacation or unable to discharge his duties.
Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for London to begin a three-week annual leave. After spending about a week in London, the president travelled to Paris, France, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré. The presidency subsequently announced the extension of his stay and said he would return home at the weekend. However, the planned return has reportedly been revised, with the reason for the change not immediately known.
The development has attracted criticism and calls for clarification from some opposition figures and lawmakers. Members of the House of Representatives under the Save Democracy Group had called for the National Assembly to reconvene and determine whether the constitutional requirements concerning Tinubu's absence had been met. The issue has sparked concerns about the continuity of governance and the role of the vice-president in the president's absence.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who had been representing Tinubu at some official engagements, travelled to New York on September 20 to represent Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly. The presidency said Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume would also continue to represent Tinubu at official events while the president remained abroad. This has raised questions about the distribution of power and responsibilities during the president's extended stay abroad.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed suggestions that there is a vacancy in the presidency or that Tinubu is no longer in charge of government. Akpabio argued that Tinubu could continue to perform his responsibilities while outside Nigeria, citing the advancements in technology that enable global communication. He insisted that "Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is still in power and is still running the affairs of Nigeria."
The presidency had announced that Tinubu had extended his stay abroad by a few days and would return to Nigeria at the weekend. However, with the latest change in travel plans, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold. The president's extended stay has raised concerns about the impact on governance and the constitutional implications of his prolonged absence from the country.
Key points
- President Bola Tinubu changes travel plans, delaying return to Nigeria
- Extended stay sparks constitutional debate over presidential absence
- Vice-president represents Tinubu at official events amid concerns about governance continuity
